Three Kansas Restaurant Reviews - Things I Love Thursday

Three Rave Reviews from my parents trip to the mid-west back in September! These are all from the great state of Kansas!


This review is really on the road but worth doing a review about. In the Wichita, Kansas Airport while waiting for a delay in Atlanta to clear up (low cloud ceiling so spacing planes every 7 miles for landing instead of their usual 3 miles ....now that is a piece of information...), I order a grilled chicken pesto sandwich on a baguette. This was around $10 with taxes. Even fast food at an airport is high I've found. The sandwich is big enough to split with my hubby. Let me tell you, the pesto sauce is great as was the nice size piece of chicken breast. The bread is baked on site (yes I like and notice bread). This sandwich even has sun dried tomatoes! It comes with an exceptionally good spicy dill pickle which I didn't have to share as hubby doesn't like them :) . Anyone guess which fast food place? The Great American Bagel Bakery. I would certainly order again if given the opportunity.

Montana Mike's adjoins the Best Western off I 35 in McPherson, Kansas (home of the great pumpkin catapulting contest --- honest, I saw on national news!). The decor is "outdoorsy" complete with a buffalo head mounted in the foyer. We take a picture! Such tourists! Other hunting and fishing decor are tastefully arranged throughout. I tend to cheer for the animals, but this is tastefully done. And we order the special of a 12 oz. rib eye steak, steamed veggies, cinnamon cooked apple slices, and a huge roll ( the size of 1/2 a sub sandwich! ). The steak flavor is great without any sauces added. I suggest ordering medium, which is like medium rare elsewhere. The mountainberry ice tea is great and a nice contrast to the meal. The servers give us their name on a stand up card to put on our table for reference. The service is great with friendly smiling staff. We stay all evening chatting with cousins and we are not pushed by the staff to order more or to leave. All this for $12.99!

I highly recommend Cindy's Copper Kettle on East River Street in Eureka, Kansas (cindyskettle@yahoo.com). Cindy's looks like a family style restaurant in a small town. There are locals eating here and that is always a good sign. It is very clean and smells really good when you walk in the door. I get excited when I see bierocks on the menu! I was introduced to bierocks by my mother in law as part of her German Mennonite background (my father in law's family being Dutch Mennonite and they make this too). Anyway, bierocks is part of this wonderful cooking tradition. The baker (who also makes heavenly huge cinnamon rolls for $1.50!) includes hamburger, cabbage, onion, and swiss cheese (a new twist for me), baked in homemade bread. (First you lightly brown & cook the first three ingredients). Cindy's serves this with ranch dressing or ketchup! I have never tried with any dip but I try the ranch. The size is huge- a good 6 inches round! I am accustomed to a rectangular shape of about 3 inches x 5 inches. It was divine!!! The swiss cheese is light and does not overpower the other flavors so I am really pleased. I eat half and save the other half for another day. Most I eat without any dip. It really is good. At Cindy's this comes with salad bar which is surprisingly good. The coleslaw, 3 bean salad, cucumber and tomato salad are all above average. The fresh toss salad add-ons include many choices and really good croutons. The crinkle cut carrot sticks are exceptional. The crisp garlic toast is a nice addition to the salad bar. And the service is good. Worth every penny at $6.95! Thank you Cindy and staff!!!

And thanks again Mom for helping me out and writing such excellent reviews!

For more great Things to Love check out The Diaper Diaries!

The Botany of Desire - Things Everyone Loves

This is a preview of the 2 hour special on PBS that will be on October 28th (check your local listings for times). I haven't read the book, but my mom keeps recommending it to me. It's about four plants: the apple, the potato, marijuana, and tulips. They highlight 4 basic desires of human nature: sweetness, control, alteration of consciousness, and beauty. The book and show are from the plants perspective. The idea is that plants use us (rather than the other way around) to spread themselves all over the world. Since I haven't found time to read the book, I'm really looking forward to this special!

For more Things to Love visit The Diaper Diaries.

Dory Cove & Stacy's Covered Bridge Restaurant Reviews - Things I Love Thursday

Two more restaurant reviews by my mom. Hope you enjoy!

Dory Cove in Lincoln City, OR is a classic good choice, even relocated on Highway 101 instead of at Roads End. A fire a number of years back forced the change. A dependable Rave Review for food. Same owners, same cook, same menu. My husband has clam chowder and parmesan cheese bread. This toasted bread is WONDERFUL! Hubby has three clam chowders in three different locations in two days and voted this the best. (Including a well known place that will remain nameless.) I have fish and chips and salad. The salad is crisp and very good. The fish and chips were the same as before and very good. I've been coming to Dory Cove since I was a little girl and that was a LONG time ago - hey I even have a t-shirt! The decor is a bit off putting but when they bring the food it is ALL good. A lot of locals come here and that tells you something. We wish them the very best!

A definite Rave Review for Stacy's Covered Bridge Restaurant in Cottage Grove, OR, on the main street across from City Hall just off of I-5. What initially catches my eye is two winged backed chairs facing a linen covered table, beautifully set, on the sidewalk... We are fortunate to be seated before 6 pm and hence eligible for the special selection of six choices for a three course meal each for $10.95! These choices sound gourmet. I opt for Chicken Tuscany with artichoke hearts and kalamata olives, in a light cream wine sauce. The first course is salad with a wonderful variety of fresh greens -NOT the usual dinner salad- and a wonderful cucumber dressing. Yum! Then the outstanding large serving of chicken. The vegetable is julienne zucchini with herbs. Really outstanding flavor and lightly steamed to perfection. Served hot and not overcooked. The third course is a choice of strawberry or chocolate large ice cream sundaes. Amazing! The decor is small and upscale. The servers are busy but work well as a cheerful team with the owner. The tone is relaxed even though the staff is really busy. This place is a hidden gem. The food is superb! And hey, if you happen to be there in July you can take in the yodeling and whistling contest in city hall. We did!

Come back next week for restaurant reviews from my parent's trip to Nashville & Kansas!


For more Things To Love visit thediaperdiaries.net!

Tidal Raves Restaurant Review - Things I Love Thursday!

Here is another great restaurant review written by my mom. Hope you enjoy! :)

A favorite of mine, Tidal Raves Seafood Grill (279 NW Hwy 101, Depoe Bay, OR 97341 541-765-2995) continues to draw large crowds to fill its 20 tables. You know you are in for a treat when people leaving encourage you with "It's worth the wait!". People are inside and outside waiting. It is 2:30 p.m. We wait for about 30 minutes. A definite Rave Review. They do take reservations in case you'd rather not wait. The view over the north end of Depoe Bay is one of the best on the Oregon Coast. The decor and music are pleasing and not detracting from the main attractions - the food and the view. I order Halibut Tacos with corn tortillas filled with grilled or battered fish, cilantro dressed cabbage, tomatoes and fresh lime; roasted pepper rice; and black beans with pico de gallo. The contrast of flavors are a delight. I have ordered this before and this is one of the few dishes that come to my mind unbidden. This time the taco is not as saucey ( more cilantro sauce would have been nice) so I am disappointed. But the black beans with pico de gallo are even better then I remembered! My husband orders traditional fish and chips served with coleslaw. The servers are efficient and very busy. Our order comes quickly, our bill slowly. We are not in a rush. There is this incredible hypnotic view to entertain us.... We will return. My meal is $11.50. Hubby's is $10.50. Eight wonderful sounding desserts are listed on the board but they will have to wait for another time.

For more things to love visit thediaperdiaries.net!

Surfrider Resort Restaurant Review - Things I Love Thursday

My Mom has kindly volunteered to help me out with my blog while my life is so crazy (and hopefully beyond). I didn't really know what to expect when I asked her to send me some of her restaurant reviews. I honestly don't think I've read anything written by my mom, unless it's a letter or email to me. But I know she's a smart lady who reads a lot so I knew it would be good! And I was right. :)

Several things make the Surfrider Resort Restaurant (on Highway 101 South of Lincoln Beach and North of Depoe Bay at the Oregon Coast) a "Rave Review". The Surfrider perches on the cliffs above Fogerty Beach and the view is truly one of the best on the Oregon coast. I step out of my norm and order steamer clams and linguine tossed with mushrooms and green onions in a white wine sauce. The flavors are subtle and not over powering of the delicate flavor of the clams. The clams are tender! I am used to razor clams which are not always. The salad with raspberry vinaigrette is fresh. The warm rolls are adequate. I would choose this again! My hubby agrees this place is consistently above average. The servers are smiling, attentive, and allow the diners to relax and enjoy the entire sunset without feeling pressure to leave before the "show" is complete. The music is not to my liking. The decor does not detract from the wonderful view. My dinner, at the lower price end was $18.00.

We always said that one of these days we'd work on a joint writing project, and I'm really glad that day has come! Hopefully my readers enjoyed this as much as I have, because I'll be featuring one of my mom's reviews once a week until she gets sick of of being my "on the scene" reporter, since obviously I'm very "off the scene". lol

For more Things to Love visit thediaperdiaries.net

Things I Love Thursday: Rhode's Frozen Bread Dough

If you're visiting from TILT be sure to enter my contest for a hand painted step stool! Click the link above! :)

I never even knew that frozen bread dough existed until just a couple weeks ago. I know, I must live under a rock or something... Anyway, I've recently developed a HUGE love for it because I LOVE homemade bread! And although making bread really isn't all that difficult, it's just not something I'm usually able to squeeze into my routine. I'd love to be one of those mom's who makes homemade bread every week, but I'm not.

Yet it drives me CRAZY to buy bread when I know I could make it myself. $3.85+ for one loaf of bread?? It just seems like a lot when I know the ingredients would cost half that much (or less).

Enter Rhode's Frozen Bread Dough! For the same cost as ONE loaf of bread you can buy THREE loaves of Rhode's. Plus all you have to do is let it defrost, toss it in the oven, and Voila! Homemade bread!

It's a little hard to find at the store, almost every grocery store has it but it's usually tucked away amongst the boxes of Texas Toast and dinner rolls and you really have to look for it. The packaging doesn't exactly scream at you. Whenever I buy it I usually spend a few minutes standing in front of the case with it right under my nose. But the hunt is worth it! The store I usually go to only carries the white or wheat versions, but according to their website it also comes in sweet bread and pizza dough. I often use their regular bread dough as pizza crust and it works splendidly. Love making my own homemade pizza and calzones! Cheaper, fresher, can be creative about toppings, plus it's a whole heck of a lot tastier!

For more products to love visit The Diaper Diaries! She's also having a giveaway today! Sweet!

Things I Love Thursday: Off Lantern and Off Clip On Review & Giveaway!

I'm a BzzAgent, and recently I had the chance to sample and review two new Off products, the Off PowerPad Lamp and the Off Clip On.





When I first got these in the mail I was worried that I wouldn't have the opportunity to get good use out of them, I don't live in an area that tends to have a high mosquito population. But I've done a lot of gardening this year, usually between 8pm and sunset, and I've noticed that once the sun starts to go down the bugs start to come out! So I actually did break out the Off Clip On, and I liked it WAY more than I thought I would! I was very worried about scent because I tend to be very sensitive in that regard, but I didn't notice any smell at all coming from the Clip On! This is now by far my favorite form of mosquito repellent! You don't have to spray anything onto your body and end up feeling sticky and gross, AND it doesn't have any smell, AND it does the job! Perfect!

Since I was so encouraged with the Clip On I had no doubts about the PowerPad Lamp. A couple weeks ago my neighbor asked me to come over and play a dice game with her. After sitting out on her back porch for an hour getting bit by bugs I ran back to my place for the Lamp. Once we got it going we were both very excited with the results! No bites, and no smell. Way better than a citronella candle for sure!

Would you like to try out one of these great products???

GIVEAWAY!

I am giving away 6 $3 off coupons for the Off PowerPad Lamp AND 6 $3 off coupons for the Off Clip On! That's 12 coupons total in case you weren't a math wiz in school.

To win just leave a comment letting me know which you would like! Random.org will choose the winner on Monday July 13th at 10am!

Things I Love Thursday: Ecco Yucatan Sandals

I haven't participated in Things I Love Thursday in a while, but today I have something that I just HAD to share! And for the record, this company doesn't even know I exist, and certainly hasn't given me any free samples or anything to giveaway. But they are seriously SO awesome that I would sing their praises till the end of time for no reimbursement whatsoever.

Today I'm gonna share with you my new kicks that I bought a couple months ago.



They are the Ecco Yucatan Sandal!

They are by far the most comfortable sandal I've ever owned. I wear them shopping, I wear them out in my yard, I wear them to walk the girls down the street, and although I haven't had the opportunity I'd certainly wear them all day long to a theme park or to take a 5 mile hike. Yes, they are THAT comfortable!!

They come in a wide variety of colors, but I'm boring, so mine are brown. But I LOVE brown because it goes with everything.

Here's what mine look like (after all-day, daily use for 2 months). WARNING: Mine are dirty and need a bath of some sort. I'm just not sure how to clean them without ruining them (because I CANNOT ruin these wonderful sandals! I'm not sure how I'd function without them anymore).





Only downside of these sandals? Because I do wear them every day, and I'm spending as much time outside in this beautiful weather as possible, I've developed quite an interesting tan line!





Yup, I now look like a total dork when I take them off. Which is why I must keep them on at all times! lol I've gotten lots of great compliments on my lovely bare feet. Hee hee!

But honestly, I'm beyond the age of caring about such things. I also have a lovely farmer's tan, but I'm ok with it. Because I'm a farmer. lol

Now I will say that these are also the most expensive sandals I've ever purchased. They chime in around $120. Ouch! But I only buy sandals about once every 5 years (I purchased my last pair 7 years ago for my honeymoon!), so to me they're an investment. And given their high quality I'm certain that they'll last me for at least 5 years if not more. Plus I'll have the added bonus of no blisters or raw spots on my feet due to less comfortable sandals that don't fit me nearly as well.

And if any PR person from Ecco happens to stop by, please say hello! Me and my feet would LOVE to thank you for saving us from another summer in less comfortable footwear!

Tiptoe... Through The Tulips..

Tuesday... was a GORGEOUS day here in the PNW. It was the kind of day that reminded me why I choose to live here rather than anywhere else. Sometimes, usually around the middle of January, I question that decision. I ask myself why oh why did I move back here??? But then days like Tuesday come along and remind me why there really is no better place than the Pacific Northwest.

The thing is, I totally take it for granted! I see these beautiful sights nearly every day, and after a while it becomes ho hum. I look out my window, see Mt. Hood, and instead of staring in awe at it's majestic beauty I note the snow levels and wonder if there will be drought this summer...

I'm such an idiot!

So as I mentioned yesterday, when it's sunny here we must take advantage of it while we can. Especially in the spring when we could be socked in with clouds and rain the very next day and the weather men are notoriously wrong.

I was scheduled to MeetUp with some ladies from my mom's group at the Tulip Festival, and was it ever the perfect day for it! I loaded up the girlies in the car, packed up some snacks and sunscreen and hit the road. The tulip fields are down in Woodburn, OR, which as it turns out is about an hour and 15 minutes from my house. I expected it would take is 45 minutes, so I was considerably late. When I drove up to the gates for the festival I realized... crap... there's a LOT of people here! I completely didn't expect to see that many people on a Tuesday morning, but here they were, in full force, as if it was a Saturday. I guess everyone got the memo that it would be GORGEOUS and they should totally skip work for it.

When I get into situations like that alone with the girls I get a little... oh what's the word... itchy. I start having a little mental conversation with myself, "Amy, it will be OK! Really! Yes, there are lots of people here and you are going solo with twin toddlers. But you have a stroller, you don't have to let them out of it, and you can all still enjoy the pretty flowers." Yikes! I was a bit of a wreck. But once I talked myself into the idea that I really COULD do it, I got out of the car, got out the stroller, smeared the girls with sunscreen, and we were off!

And boy was it worth it!!!



Ziva was a little "itchy" too at that point. She REALLY wanted to get out and run around after the long car ride. I really wanted to let her do just that. But with so many people around it just didn't seem super safe. As long as I kept the stroller moving they were pretty happy, but every time I stopped they wanted to get out. Needless to say I didn't stay for long.



Oh yeah, the other thing that kept them happy? Getting within reach of the flowers. They very much wanted to touch... er... destroy... them.









While I was there I ordered tulips and dafodils for my garden next year. The bulbs will arrive at my doorstep this fall! I'm already excited about it! If you'd like to order some tulips from the same farm, Check This Out! Pictured below is what they call the Field Mix. It's what I ordered, and I can't wait to see these blooms in my yard next spring!









They had many MANY varieties though! I'm sure they'd have exactly what you want if you're looking for something specific.





They even had a great view of my highly taken for granted friend, Mt. Hood.



Hello friend. :)

I've missed you so. All winter long you've been hiding behind those clouds, only coming out for short visits.

I'm so looking forward to seeing your beautiful face more often this summer.





And yes, I took these through my windshield while driving. Don't call the cops on me please. I just couldn't resist! Just LOOK at her! All white and gorgeous!!

Mt. Hood + Columbia River = Masterpiece of Nature!



And yes, for those of you PNW natives, I realize that Mt. Hood is actually a he, and that Mt. St. Helens is a she. I too was taught Native American lore in grade school. :)


This post is linked to Things I Love Thursday over at The Diaper Diaries. Because living here is certainly a thing I love!

Things I Love Thursday: PCLT and other Community Land Trusts

Thanks so much for helping me out with my Cookie Conundrum! I'd love to get some more feedback on which cookie I should make for the auction, so if you haven't voted yet please do! I totally appreciate your input!



As some of you may already know, I used to be a real estate agent before the girls entered my life. My specialty as an agent was helping first time home buyers. And even more specifically, helping people who thought a home was out of their reach. The good news is there are some great programs out there for buyers who have good credit, just not enough income to afford homes in their area. My absolute FAVORITE program of all time is Portland Community Land Trust.

PCLT is a non-profit organization (funded by private and public funds) that helps bridge the gap for hard working families. They do this by lowering the cost of home ownership. Their model is simple: they hold the land in trust while the buyer owns the house and improvements. So the home buyer only needs to come up with the price of the house itself, without the value of the land it sits on. This of course dramatically decreases the cost of ownership, and makes it possible for many families to own property that wouldn't be able to otherwise. The homeowner then pays a small monthly fee to the land trust and signs a lease agreement for the land itself. Two years ago it was around $20/month (depending on the property) to lease the land... very minimal!

Here's some info directly from a PCLT brochure I dug up:

How does PCLT homeownership compare to other homeownership?

The Same
- The homeowner has a mortgage with a bank.
- The homeowner accumulates equity.
- The home can be inherited.
- The homeowner pays property taxes.
- Homeowner can make alterations and improvements.
- The homeowner receives federal mortgage tax deduction.

Different
- The purchase price is lower, usually by about 20-30% below the market rate because the land is already paid for.
- The CLT owns the land, and the homeowner leases the land from the CLT for a nominal fee.
- Selling a CLT home helps limited income families in the same way as buying a CLT home.

The good news from a sustainability standpoint, the land remains affordable forever (in perpetuity) because the home can only be sold back to PCLT and resold to another qualifying home buyer. They use an independent appraiser to determine the market value of the home, so it is very fair to the current home owner.

PCLT homes generally cost $60,000-$100,000 less than a market home. So for a family who has a steady income and good credit, yet doesn't make enough to qualify for a home in this area, it really is an excellent way to go! They can get a much nicer home for their money because the land value isn't attached to the purchase price.



In the most recent newsletter that I received from PCLT they introduced their newest development Pardee Commons (pictured above). It's going to have 10 homes, all 2-3 bedrooms. Some will be duplex style homes while others will be single detached homes. It's a very "green" development! They're going to meet Oregon Department of Energy's High Performance Home standard, which means they will use 50% less power than homes built only to code. They will feature solar hot water, extra insulation, high efficiency heat pumps, permeable pavers and more! Which should make them even more affordable to own because utility bills will be super low. These homes will be sold for $124,500-$158,000, ridiculously affordable for this area!

Don't live in the Portland Metro area? Still really interested about this whole concept? There are hundreds of Community Land Trusts across the country, most of them use this same basic model! Just do a google search of "Community Land Trust Your City Name" and see what you come up with. :)

For more things to love visit The Diaper Diaries!

Things I Love Thursday: My Bissel SpotBot

For more reviews of great products visit The Diaper Diaries!

One product that came in extra super handy when we were all sick last week was our Bissel SpotBot. If you have carpeted areas and live with pets and/or kids you really do need one of these! We bought ours years ago during puppy house training and it was a Godsend! Just fill it with water and cleaning solution (I'm thinking about trying out white vinegar instead of the solution Bissel sells, my guess is it would work wonderfully), plug it in, set it on top of the spot you want to clean, select if it's a surface or deep stain, and then walk away! The SpotBot will do all of the scrubbing and sucking up liquid for you! It works beautifully!

As I mentioned, we've had our SpotBot for about 4 years now, and it's one item in my house that if it broke today I'd be running out to buy a new one... it's that good!

Wanna order a SpotBot from Amazon and have 10% of the proceeds go towards the Community Pregnancy Clinic of Camas Washougal? Then click Here.

Things I Love Thursday: TiVo and How it Works with Netflix

It's time once again for another Things I Love Thursday! This one is hosted by The Diaper Dairies, so go check out what other people Love this week.

I am in love with my TiVo. We got the TiVo when the girls were very little, and I was SO excited about it because there's really not much in the way of great viewing material at 2am. And I don't know about you, but when my girls were in the midst of night feedings I did a lot of TV viewing while nursing. Some women gaze down at their newborn and contemplate the amazingness of life... I got hooked on Doctor Who instead.

Hey, it's better than infomercials!

...

Who am I kidding? With all that nerdy blood coursing through my veins it was only a matter of time before I discovered Doctor Who and got addicted to it.

It was super handy to have a TiVo around when the girls started sleeping through the night, because then I could record Doctor Who (which plays on PBS at ridiculously odd hours and at intermittent intervals) and never miss an episode!

Until that is... I realized that our local PBS station only plays season 1 over and over and over again and never moves on to season 2. Which really REALLY sucks if you've ever watched season 1 of Doctor Who because in the final episode (ok... I really want to spoil the story, but just in case there are some random Doctor Who fans out there reading this who haven't seen it yet...) something CRAZY happens and it has this unbelievable cliffhanger ending that leaves you screaming at your TV and BEGGING for more!

So I had Hubs add season 2 to our Netflix queue, but once he learned that there were only 3 episodes per disk, and that they'd automatically send the ENTIRE season in succession... he pretty much put the kabosh on it. I understand his point, if we had ordered it we'd be receiving Doctor Who and ONLY Doctor Who for the next month at least. And that wouldn't really be fair to Hubs because he won't watch Doctor Who with me, and pretty much rolls his eyes and leaves the room while I'm watching it.

Then just this last week I discovered something new and amazing!!! TiVo & Netflix can work TOGETHER!!! That's right! You can add movies & TV episodes to your Netflix "Instant Queue" and then watch them right away on your TiVo! How cool is that?! It's this new fangled thing called "On Demand", perhaps you've heard of it? I live in a cave and don't get out too often so it was all new to me.

Heard of it but don't know how to use it? Here's how!

First you go to your TiVo main menu.



See that little option in the middle called "Video on Demand"? Click that.



You'll get the wait a minute icon, and then eventually you'll see this.



The first time I saw the above menu my jaw dropped. You mean... you can watch YouTube...on my TV?! Wow...

So once you're able to pick you jaw up off the floor, scroll down to where it says Netflix, and then go over to the right hand side and click on Netflix account info. It'll give you a code. Go over to your computer, access your Netflix account, and then enter the code that TiVo gave you. This will make TiVo and Netflix work together!

Once you've done this, feel free to paruse your Netflix queue and start entering things into your Instant Queue. Some movies and shows have the option to watch instantly, some do not. So you won't be able to watch EVERYTHING via your TiVo, but you will be amazed at what you CAN watch instantly!

Then select "Watch Instantly" on your TiVo.



You'll have to wait a minute or so, and then you'll see this screen.



And yes, obviously Hubs and I have very different taste in movies. lol

Hmm... I wonder who likes Becoming Jane and who likes A Nightmare on Elm Street?

If I scroll down I can find what I'm looking for...

Doctor Who!



After I select Doctor Who Season 2 (I seriously hope the "new" Doctor is as good as the old one!) I get this list of all the different episodes.



When I select an episode, I get a screen very similar to when I select any recorded program on TiVo.



When you hit play, or resume playing in this case, it will take a minute or 2 for your TiVo to download the program before you can view it. Apparently TiVo waits until it KNOWS your going to watch an "On Demand" show before it saves it onto it's hard drive.

The best part??? It's FREE to watch "On Demand" shows unless in the menu it tells you otherwise. There are some areas, such as the Amazon department, where it will cost you to view the program. So be careful what you select! But to watch Netflix shows via TiVo is absolutely FREE if you are already paying for both the TiVo and an unlimited Netflix account. You can add as many movies as you like to the Netflix Instant Queue, so you can really go hog wild if you want!

Obviously I've been having a lot of fun with this, so I thought I'd let you know about it so that you can have fun with it too. :)

Things I Love Thursday: Oxo Measuring Cup

What can I say, I love kitchen stuff. I have been known to walk into Bed Bath & Beyond and stand in front of the kitchen gadgets in awed silence. And then I have to pick what I came for and rush out before I end up buying out the whole store.

A couple years ago I decided that I really needed to invest in some better measuring cups and measuring spoons. My mom gave me some really cool vintage dry measuring cups, which I LOVE and will NEVER part with that look kind of like this. But I needed a new cup for wet ingredients. I was doing a lot more bulk freezer cooking, and I decided that it would be nice to have 2 cup one as opposed to the 1 cup that I had been using.

So I got the Oxo Good Grips 2 cup. I LOVE it! I love how you can read the measurement from the top or the side, I love the size of it, I love how sturdy it feels in my hand... it's just awesome. Plus it's not that expensive, and a great investment if you're looking for a more handy cup to have around.

I'll share my measuring spoons next week. :)

For more Things to Love check out thediaperdiaries.com.

Things I Love Thursday: Mother of Multiples Groups

Every week I participate in Things I Love Thursday over at The Diaper Dairies. This week, I decided to go with my Mother of Multiples Group because it really has been an excellent resource for me while on this journey of parenting twins. To anyone who also has twins, look into it, you won't be sorry.

If you're searching for a group in your area, this should be your first stop. The National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs. And don't let the name fool ya, they are extremely relevant and appropriate for families with triplets or more. They have a zip code search over on the right to search for a club in your area. If you don't find one in your area, that doesn't necessarily mean that such a club doesn't exist near you. There are many clubs around that choose not to join the NOMTC, but since so many are this is still the best first stop for finding a chapter near you.

If you can't find a group through NOMTC I would suggest checking out MeetUp.com. Although there isn't a MeetUp group in my area for Multiples, my guess is that there certainly is in other parts of the country. I have found several Mom & Me type groups through MeetUp and it has been an EXCELLENT way for me to meet other local moms and get out of the house to fun activities with my kids.

If that doesn't work, then simply google "Moms of multiples your city and state". You're sure to find something!

If you live in the greater Portland Metro area, there are 2 Moms of Multiples clubs. The largest is not a member of NOMTC, and they hold most of their meetings over on the west side. It's called Full House MOM's or FHM for short. I joined FHM while I was expecting, and they were extremely helpful! They have 2 very large resale events a year. Each family (usually around 50-70) has a booth full of baby stuff. You wouldn't believe the great things I scored at that sale! Plus they also have a library, a preemie closet, they deliver meals to new mothers, and mom & me events. Great club! Great ladies! Totally worth the $35 annual membership fee.

PS: FHM's Spring Resale Event is coming up soon! It's March 14th, and although members get to enter at 8am, it's open to the public starting at 9am! So if you're expecting ANY number of babies you absolutely don't want to miss it! Check their web site for details!

The other club in our area is Columbia Mother of Twins Club. They are members of the NOMTC, and therefore are able to participate in regional and national conferences. In fact, they are hosting the Portland 2011 conference, and are already making preparations for that event. Columbia MOTC is located in Vancouver, WA up in the Salmon Creek area, but they serve all of Clark County. This group has been around for 50+ years and many of the founding members still attend the meetings. This gives the meetings such an awesome multi-generational feel, and it's great to be around other moms that have gone through it all before. They have monthly meetings (for moms only), which usually involve some sort of activity or guest speaker. This group is highly organized, and you can expect a lot of planning going on at each meeting. They offer mom & me events as well as mom's (and dad's) nights out. Their annual membership fee is $20 (I think!).

As a mom of twins, these groups have been extremely helpful to me. There are a couple message boards on the 'net dedicated to mom's of twins or more, but I truly think there is value in face to face interaction, and there's just something that I get out of monthly meetings that I can't get online. And it's SO important to talk to other mom's who have multiples, because frankly, so many singleton moms just don't 'get it'. It's not their fault, they just don't fully understand the way a mom of twins (or more!) can. I can't even begin to tell you how helpful it is to be around other mom's who DO get it!

Coupon Code for Tilty Cups!

I just got an email from Tilty Cup informing me that for a limited time they are offering 15% off if you buy 2 or more 2 packs of cups! How cool is that! You can order directly from them at www.tiltycup.com

The coupon code at check out is: THKU09

If you're wondering, hmmm... what are these Tilty Cups of which you speak? Then go check out my very positive review!

Things I Love Thursday: Cuisinart Griddler

For more things to love, check out The Diaper Diaries! Each and every Thursday bunches of people link up their favorite things!

The same day that we bought my steam mop, we also bought the Cuisinart Griddler. I've been looking for an indoor grill/griddle for a long time, and until recently I guess I just haven't been thrilled with the options. I wanted something that was versitile, something that I could use to make lots of things, not just pancakes or just grilled chicken or burgers. I have an average sized kitchen, but even so I don't have room for small appliances that can only do ONE thing. I considered getting an electric skillet for a while... but then banished that idea from my mind because where would I put it???

Enter the Griddler! It comes with 2 sets of metal plates that can be interchanged depending on what you're making. One set is like a grill, the other is like a griddle, hence the name. PLUS! It folds in half so that it can also be used as a pannini press! How cool is that?!

So far I've used it to make grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes, and chicken. There's never been a need to spray anything on it to prevent sticking. Everything always comes out perfectly cooked. And the plates can be washed in the dishwasher. I'm totally thrilled with it!

Things I Love Thursday: My Bissel Steam Mop

For many more great Things to Love visit The Diaper Diaries and check out all the great links!

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was to get this steam mop 3 weeks ago! Hubs and I went on a date, and instead of going to the movies we went shopping. Now, I'm not a huge fan of shopping, I find it boring and usually end up buying nothing. But when I saw the Bissel Steam Mop my heart went pitter pat and I just HAD to get it. It's something that's been on my wish list for oh... a year maybe? And I've looked for it everywhere and the only place I'd previously been able to find it is online. Nothing wrong with buying online, but I guess I just wasn't motivated enough to place the order or something. So when I suddenly found it at Kohl's I practically lept for joy! I had looked for it there in the past, but they just recently started carrying it.

I was so excited that I told the cashier, "This is almost as good as Christmas!" Yup, that's what I said. lol

We also got the Cuisenart Griddler, which I'm thrilled with, so stay tuned for that review next week. :)

So what do I think of my new steam mop now that I've had the chance to use it?

Well, there are several features that set it apart from other steam mops I looked at:

#1: It comes with 2 re-useable terrycloth pads. So there's nothing disposable to buy more of later! Ever! You just throw the pads into the wash and so far mine have come clean beautifully. I've read other reviews online that talk of their pads slipping as they use the mop, but I haven't had that problem and I suspect that it's something bissel has fixed with this model.

#2: It uses pure water, no cleaning solutions! This to me was a huge draw. No chemicals on my floors! This is huge to me since obviously I have two little ones. Plus it's very economical, nothing more to buy ever in order for it to work the way it's designed to. Fabulous! So far, I don't feel like I'm missing anything in regards to how clean my floors come out. Except for maybe that pine scent (barf!).

#3: It is EFFECTIVE! Even Hubs who pretty much never comments on my cleaning raved about how clean the floors were. Some cleaning products that I've used in the past have left my tile either tacky or slippery, but with the steam mop my floors are simply clean. Honestly, my floors haven't been this clean since the day we moved in.

#4: Easy to use! Just put the pad on, put some water in, plug it in, wait a couple minutes until the light comes on, then you're good to go! I did have to do some minor scrubbing action with the mop to get up some spots, but I know I'd have to do a lot more with a regular mop! The steam really assists in getting up those tough sticky spots.


There are only two drawbacks to the Bissel Steam Mop that I've found and I'd be remiss to omit them. Obviously, it's a mop, not a vacuum. You do need to sweep or vacuum before you use the steam mop otherwise you'll end up with clumps of dog hair in the corners and such. It's simply not intended to pick up hair or particles, it's intended to clean and sterilize and that's exactly what it does. The only other minor thing that I'd change about it is that the cord is too short, not nearly as long as the cord on my vacuum. As a result, there is one area of my house that will never be cleaned with the steam mop unless I get out an extension cord (which I probably won't bother with). I think it's a little silly that the manufacturer didn't test this in a real home, because I think if they did they'd automatically see the flaw and make the cord about 6 feet longer. Our house is only 3 years old and our outlets are spaced according to code (read: close together), so you'd think this wouldn't be a problem... but it is.

All in all, I LOVE my steam mop. I'll never go back to a regular mop or one of those swiffer dealies. The other floor cleaning options out there totally and completely suck compared to my new steam mop. I've never been so thrilled with a cleaning product, and Hubs has never been so baffled over my glee. :)

Be sure to come back on Mystery Spice Monday for a great new recipe and an opportunity to link up your own using a random spice from your own spice rack!

My Favorite Things Thursday

If YOU would like to participate in My Favorite Things Thursday, just head on over to The Diaper Diaries to join in their weekly carnival.

ANNOUNCEMENT! My very first Mystery Spice Monday will be held this coming Monday February 9th! So be sure to come back then with a recipe made from a spice from your spice rack. Details HERE!

No before I get into talking about my favorite thing I want to make something clear, I gain absolutely NOTHING from mentioning this product. I do not sell the stuff, I only buy it. Period. :) Now back to your regularly scheduled blog...

This week my favorite thing(s) are Arbonne products! I just received an big order of the stuff, and I must admit to jumping in the air a little big and giggling like a school girl. Lotions and potions are certainly a weakness of mine.

I started out using their NutriMinC Anti-aging line about a year ago. I decided that I just NEEDED it shortly after my 30th birthday. And I'm so glad I made that decision. It's a little pricey, but the stuff works! There are several wrinkles that I was starting to get that literally disappeared after just a few weeks of using the system. I'm SO pleased with the results! I'd truly recommend this line to anyone who's hoping to look younger and refreshed.

Then I discovered some of their other products, and so far I've loved every single thing. Their hand lotion smells fantastic and is nice and thick without being greasy, plus the small tube of it is only $6 when you spend over $100 (which is super easy to do!). The foot lotion is also really nice, it has a more subtle smell than most other brands I've used. I just got this body lotion as part of my last order, and oh my goodness they aren't kidding when they say it's luxurious. LOVE IT!

So anyway, there are so many Arbonne products that I haven't tried yet, but I'm really looking forward to it because so far there hasn't been anything that I've been disappointed with!

If you're looking for a consultant there's a search function on the website that can help you find someone in your area. I personally use Carey Yen, she's fabulous and if you live near Clark County, WA you should contact her through the site. She rocks!

Bonus Post, YAY!

Right now, as we speak (so to say), my Mystery Spice Monday dish is on the stove. So I just had to come by and say... Oh my GOSH it smells GOOD! And I can hardly wait to share it with you on Monday!

But not to fear! I know it's been a while since I've posted a recipe, so to tide you over, you should really go check out Julie's renovation of my Homemade Granola Bars! Just like a contractor remodels houses, lovely Julie has remodeled this recipe into something that actually works. I followed her instructions to the T last night (well, except I added cinnamon and chocolate chips, drool!) and it turned out awesome! I'm absolutely going to use her method again and again! Thank you so much Julie for taking the time to tweek my recipe!

Coming up on From A to Z:

Thurs: I'll be participating in Things I Love Thursday over at The Diaper Diaries.

Fri: I'll be posting up a new Toddler Friendly recipe (appropriate for big kids too!).

And umm... after that I'm just wingin' it till Monday! :)