Hi Ladies,

I was extensively quoted in an article on RevlolutionHealth.com. (Hope you don't mind me bragging, this stuff is good for my page rank and popularity!)

  Here's the link to the article called 5 Ways To Simplify Your Life. While you're there, have a look around, they've got some nice stuff at "Mom Central" over there...

And...if you like the article -- tell them so! Maybe they'll ask me to do more :)

Thanks for you're support!

 Sarah Z.

First of all, let me just say right now that if I seem to be a bit food obsessed lately -- well, I am.

No particular reason.  I have just noticed that many of the post I have made over the past few weeks, and many more that I have planned, are food related in one way or another.  

I'm just a foodie at heart.  Hey -- we've all gotta eat  - right? :)

So...here's another food related solution.

Motherhood and baking cookies are supposed to go hand-in-hand right?  Before I was a mom, I had visions of spending afternoons baking cookies with my children. Teaching them about fractions as we carefully measured out the flour. Watching them smile as they lick the bowl. Me in an apron feeling like Donna Reed (minus the heels - I'm no sadist :)

Yet despite these visions of perfection, whenever I start baking with my children, my inner control freak comes out. Stuff always gets spilled...The children and I both get impatient and...well...it's clear that Donna Reed does not live here. (No big surprise - right?)

I've found a solution!  Cake Mix cookies.

In those lovely little boxes you can get in the grocery store for about $2.50 are all of the dry ingredients you need for yummy cookies - no need to start pulling out flour, sugar and spill them all over the floor (for some reason, it always happens to me!)  

We still have fun baking cake mix cookies, my kids crack the eggs, pour in the oil and water, flavoring and chocolate chips -- but it's just a little bit easier and faster, which makes everyone happy. 

Maybe when they are just a bit older,  I'll do it from scratch with them...but for now...this works for me.

So I thought I'd share it with you :) 

CAKE MIX COOKIES

  * 1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix - any kind
    * 1/2 cup butter, softened
    * 2 eggs
    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    * 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

   1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
   2. Pour the cake mix into a large bowl. Stir in the butter, eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer until well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto cookie sheets.
   3. Bake for 11 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are golden. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.

Yup, makes me feel like a "slacker" that I'm not baking from scratch with my kids...but that's okay with me! 

Want to improve your child's vocabulary, teach him manners, and create strong family bonds while lowering his risk of drug-abuse, sexual promiscuity, and other "high risk" behaviors?

The Solution? Regular Family Dinners.

 I know it's not possible for everyone, all the time, but the more you can have family dinners together, the better!

I could quote you a bunch of studies and statistics  that prove what I'm saying about the importance of family dinners...but I don't want to bore you!

Luckily my friend Christine from Dine Without Whine, sprinkled some of that stuff into her beautiful, inspiring online movie about the importance of family dinners.   It only takes a couple of minutes to watch, but I highly recommend it!  (And She offers her FABULOUS meal-planning-solution at the end of the movie. I recommend it if you need help getting dinner on the table for that family bonding time!) You can find the movie at http://www.solutionsforbusymoms.com/familydinnervideo

Please let me know what you think of it by leaving a comment! 

Hello ladies. Sorry I've been gone for a few days, but I'm back with more great solutions

Here's a consise article about E-Coli and how to avoid getting sick from it.  This article was written by my friend Susan Myers of the Healthy Menu Mailer that I reviewed a while back. 

Vegetables – Health Food Or Killers

With the recent outbreak of e-coli traced back to bagged spinach of all
things, the FDA now suggests consumers thoroughly wash all bagged produce
(including salad) before consuming it to avoid the extreme diarrhea e-coli
bacterial can cause.

The e-coli bacteria can be found in any raw or undercooked foods. Most
often outbreaks are linked to undercooked meat, or unsafe handling of raw
meat, particularly ground beef. What was up until now less well known is
that e-coli can also be found on fresh produce like fruits and vegetables.

E-coli bacteria cause severe diarrhea often with bloody stool and can
cause kidney failure and possible death. The old and the young are
particularly prone to extreme cases of the infection. If you suspect you
have been infected with e-coli, contact your physician right away.

E-coli naturally occurs in the intestines of animals like cows and
chickens. As these animals are slaughtered and processed, traces of the
bacteria can come into contact with the meat. Ground beef seems to be
especially prone to getting contaminated. To kill any e-coli (or other
bacteria for that matter) that may have “snuck in”, cook all meat to an
internal temperature of at least 160 F.

So, how does this same bacteria get into our salad, veggies and fruit?
Manure is often used as a natural fertilizer and gets’ stuck on the
outside of the vegetables and fruits as they grow and are harvested.
Produce is cleaned off before it’s bagged and shipped to you, but that
doesn’t necessarily mean all the bacteria are gone.

In particular vegetables including salad that are bagged provide a perfect
growing environment for the e-coli bacteria. The bag ensures that there is
always some moisture around the produce that allows the e-coli to
multiply.

The recent outbreak of e-coli in bagged spinach along with previous
outbreaks in bagged salad mixes and even containers of strawberries makes
you wonder if we should just avoid all prepackaged and bagged produce.
Fortunately we don’t have to go that far, but we should get in the habit
of properly preparing those foods.

Salad and vegetables mixes in bags are often pre-washed and sold as “ready
to serve”. Take a few minutes and rinse them with warm water, followed by a
splash of cold water to avoid cooking the spinach or salad. Use plenty of
warm water on hardier vegetables such as tomatoes or carrots and don’t
forget to wash fruit with plenty of water as well, especially
strawberries. Strawberries grow very low to the ground and are often
fertilized with manure or are grown on soil that was previously fertilized
that way. Since the berries grow practically directly on top of the soil,
it is easy for the e-coli to catch a ride on the fruit directly into your
home.

Washing raw fruit and vegetables with plenty of warm water should get rid
of most of the bacteria, making it safe to eat. Make it a habit to wash
your produce whether the packaging indicates it’s pre-washed or not. It
will only take a few minutes and could prevent you from getting sick in
the long run.

Susanne Myers is the co-publisher of the Healthy Menu Mailer, a weekly
recipe and menu mailer that’s all about eating healthy. Join us for a free
7-day sneak peak at http://www.healthymenumailer.com
 

Ever since I saw this entry & this entry over at 5MinutesForMom.com  I have been obsessed with WRAPS! If you're low-carbin' it -- it's a great solution. Just take a whole grain wrap & fill with protien & veggies and a little dressing -- wrap it up and you're set to go.  If find it perfectly filling and I never feel overstuffed! It really does give me energy! I'm hooked.

While you're there, look over 5MinutesForMom.com This site is very cool PLUS, they are responsible for the "Promote Your  Solution" page I recently added!  I first saw the idea there! Thanks girls!