tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76811668662816293372024-03-13T08:11:00.970-07:00Mama Chocolatemusings on children, chores, and chocolate...Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-14533858200808096012011-08-01T00:07:00.000-07:002011-08-01T00:07:00.573-07:00Monday Meet & Greet - Real Dad Reviews<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">Welcome</strong><span style="line-height: 16px;"> to Week 1 of our new "Monday Meet & Greet!" </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Mama Chocolate has joined up with a group of bloggers to help you discover new blogs, and to meet the bloggers behind them!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Nathan </b>at <a href="http://www.realdadreviews.com/">Real Dad Reviews</a> is the lucky featured blogger this week!</span></div></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realdadreviews.com/"><img src="http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f136/butterflygirlms/Request/RealDadReviewsButton.png" /></a></div><br />
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">Tell us a little about you...</strong> "My name is Nathan! I am a retired United States Army Veteran. I have been married to my wonderful wife Skye for 4 years. We have three beautiful children together. We also have custody of our two nephews, and my sister in law."</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">Tell us 5 of your favorite things... </strong> </span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Top Five Movies of all time-</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1-Twister</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2-Stargate</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3-Independence Day</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4-Hard Rain</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5-Day After Tomorrow</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">What do you blog about?</strong> "I blog about anything and everything my family can use, that I think others would want to know how it worked and if it worked. Some products rock my socks off, while others I would not use if I was paid. Well maybe if I was paid a lot..."</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">How did you decide what to name your blog?</strong> I decided on Real Dad Reviews because I was getting jealous of all the cool stuff my wife (<a href="http://www.realmomreviews.net/">Real Mom Reviews</a>) was getting in the mail. Every time I mentioned something I liked or didn't like about the items she was getting, she told me it was real MOM reviews, not real dad reviews, so I improvised! </span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">What is your favorite blog post? </strong><a href="http://www.realdadreviews.com/2011/03/my-newest-baby.html">My Newest Baby</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">Favorite item ever reviewed..</strong> <a href="http://www.realdadreviews.com/2011/01/packit.html">Pack It</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">When do you find time to blog?</strong> I am a stay at home dad, who does the majority of my blogging after the kids are asleep!</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">What does your family think of your blog?</strong> My wife, of course loves it. We team up sometimes for reviews together. The rest of my family just doesn't understand how it works.</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">What advice would you give a new blogger?</strong> Never give up- it is not easy. Take a step back, give yourself a week break, and hit the ground running when you get back!</span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">What are your favorite blogs to read?</strong> </span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://frugalmomoftwo.com/">Frugal Mom of Two</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://theoatmeal.com/">The Oatmeal</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 16px;" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="line-height: 16px;">What brand or product would you really like to work with/review?</strong> Boon! I love all the products from Boon.</span><br />
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</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-51497824531395414162011-07-29T00:44:00.000-07:002011-07-29T00:44:12.199-07:00Energy Bites - Fun with Food Friday<center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://ftmommyferg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Mama Chocolate"><img alt="Mama Chocolate" src="http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l490/Johanna_Conser/FunwithFoodFridayButtonOption1.jpg" /></a> </span><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to this week's <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/fun-with-food-friday-coming-soon.html">Fun with Food Friday</a>! </span></center><center><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">(ALERT: Read to the bottom for extra bonus entries opportunity!)</span></i></center><center><i><br />
</i></center><center><center><br />
</center></center><center>This delicious recipe comes from reader <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/lksample">Lauren Kane-Sample</a>!</center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br />
</b></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ENERGY BITES</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-XS1ERsJ4E/TjJfGLTf6NI/AAAAAAAAA-c/YEW9FxSuEx4/s1600/2011+July+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-XS1ERsJ4E/TjJfGLTf6NI/AAAAAAAAA-c/YEW9FxSuEx4/s320/2011+July+017.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><ul style="border-collapse: collapse;"><li style="text-align: left;"><b>1/2 cup nut butter</b> <i>(almond, peanut, sunflower seed or another other nut/seed butter)</i></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1/3 cup <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/03/tropical-traditions-raw-honey-review.html">honey</a> </b>or other liquid sweetener <i>(be careful of thinner sweeteners as they might not hold together as well.)</i></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1 cup old fashioned <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/organic-thick-rolled-oats-tropical.html">rolled oats</a></b> <i>(you can toast for a nuttier flavor at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes)</i></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut </b><i>(you can substitute any dry ingredient for this: wheat bran or germ, oat bran, ground flax seed, (I wouldn't recommend using an entire cup of flax seed,) any ground nuts or seeds. For a cookie dough type bite, try adding a few tablespoons of your favorite whole grain flour.)</i></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1-2 tsp your favorite spices</b> or spice combos <i>(optional: I skipped this)</i></li>
<li style="text-align: left;">pinch of<b> sea salt </b>if needed</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>1/2 cup other add-ins</b> <i>(any whole or roughly chopped nuts/seeds, dried fruit, chocolate chips, etc.)</i></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i>Directions from Lauren:</i></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: left;">In a large bowl add the nut butter, honey or other sweetener, vanilla and salt if needed. If all your ingredients are room temperature you should be able to stir to combine. If this is difficult you can warm in the microwave for a few seconds or even place the bowl in an inch or two hot water for a few minutes to soften everything. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Once this is combined add the remaining ingredients.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">In this case I used almond butter and for my addins I used equal parts sesame seeds, poppy seeds and mini chocolate chips. Mix well. Once it’s all combined place in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Then remove from the fridge, scoop out some dough and roll into a ball. I find it’s much easier, and works better to squeeze the handful together to compact it and then roll it into a ball.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">If yours are too sticky you can considering adding more dry ingredients into them or rolling them in something like ground nuts, coconut, etc so they aren’t as sticky. Place the balls in an airtight container either in the fridge or freezer for quick and easy snacks.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">* * * * * * *</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I started by making some <a href="http://wholenewmom.com/recipes/desserts/homemade-chocolate-or-carob-chips/">dairy-free chocolate chips</a> with <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/tropical-traditions-coconut-oil-review.html">coconut oil</a>. I'll have to write a review on that recipe sometime. They were good, but <i>very dark</i> chocolate. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And coming from me, that's saying something, 'cause I like my chocolate <b>dark</b>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway, they worked well in this recipe, so I was happy, and my poor chocolate-deprived daughter was <i>very</i> happy.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-juwe7f5Fx4o/TjJfYei9cqI/AAAAAAAAA-g/Oh974wYWZ6I/s1600/2011+July+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-juwe7f5Fx4o/TjJfYei9cqI/AAAAAAAAA-g/Oh974wYWZ6I/s320/2011+July+019.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I was pretty in-exact in my measurements, mostly because I hate trying to measure things like peanut butter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I used about half almond butter and half peanut butter. I think I'd prefer them with 100% almond butter, but I didn't have much, so I combined them.</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uSrtmxj9yY/TjJfpqx5dgI/AAAAAAAAA-k/5pbzbAA65vg/s1600/2011+July+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uSrtmxj9yY/TjJfpqx5dgI/AAAAAAAAA-k/5pbzbAA65vg/s320/2011+July+022.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">These are very similar to a recipe I have for "Power Balls" from a friend, (the mother of 7 boys that just had their first girl!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They are a great snack to have in the freezer. Perfect for when I'm pregnant and/or nursing, and a healthy and deceivingly cookie-like option for my toddler.</span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vmjNHDEVyVU/TjJf5L25BFI/AAAAAAAAA-o/eJw_55GIJpQ/s1600/2011+July+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vmjNHDEVyVU/TjJf5L25BFI/AAAAAAAAA-o/eJw_55GIJpQ/s320/2011+July+024.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I rolled most of them in a unsweetened coconut/sesame seed mixture and left some of them plain so as not to be so messy for Katie to eat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This pan is sitting in my freezer now, and when I get around to it, I'll put them in a container back in the freezer for easy access!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks, Lauren, for this healthy and delicious snack!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: both; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">* * * * * * * *</div></center></center><center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">See what Michelle at <a href="http://ftmommyferg.blogspot.com/">The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a <strike>First</strike> Second Time Mom</a> has cooked up this week</span>!</center></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please check my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/p/recipe-archives.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">archives</span></a> for more delicious recipes!</span></center><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></center><center>You can get <b>10 extra entries into any ONE giveaway of your choice for <i>each</i> recipe you submit</b>, (you can send me as many as you like!)</center></center><br />
<div align="center">Just send the recipe(s) to <a href="mailto:mamachocolateblog@gmail.com">mamachocolateblog@gmail.com</a> and add the entries into the appropriate box on the giveaway entry form.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-21281841788022477952011-07-28T10:11:00.000-07:002011-07-28T10:11:27.962-07:00Keeping Your Toddler Busy - Toddler Talk Thursday<center><a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/search/label/Toddler%20Talk%20Thursday/"><img src="http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5105/toddlertalk.png" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><center></center></center><center><br />
</center><center><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Check out the hosts of this fun weekly link-up,<a href="http://www.familylifeinlv.com/"> Family and Life in Las Vegas</a>, <a href="http://www.crazyaboutmybaybah.com/">Crazy about My Baybah</a>, and <a href="http://www.sippycupmom.com/">My Life as a Sippy Cup Mom</a>!</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This week's topic is:</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3013; line-height: 24px;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="color: #3f3013; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><strong>How do you keep your toddler entertained in difficult situations - grocery store, doctors' office, etc?</strong></span></strong></span></strong></span><b>"</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It doesn't take much to keep Katie entertained. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Keeping her entertained and <i><b>quiet</b></i> is a whole different issue...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Grocery stores and even doctor's offices aren't usually too difficult for us, just so long as she can talk.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She is a <i>talker.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Church is the hardest for us right now, because of her chatty personality. We have worked on this a lot with her and we're starting to see success! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We keep her involved during the service as much as possible, and then during the sermon, (which is usually 45 minutes long!) we bring out her special "purse" that contains a special toy or two and some crayons and paper and maybe a little book.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">She at least whispers when she feels the need to communicate, and she mostly plays quietly with what we've brought.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYK7y8Y-qi4/TjGMBXmAFLI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/R8YJtr9DNRQ/s1600/2011+May+549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MYK7y8Y-qi4/TjGMBXmAFLI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/R8YJtr9DNRQ/s320/2011+May+549.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Where it isn't essential for us to be quiet, (waiting in doctors' offices, etc,) we read books, or I'll tell her stories, (or she tells <i>me</i> stories, which is <i>much </i>more entertaining! She has an amazing imagination for a 2-year-old!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXNoAh3f7b0/TjGMZFBc0ZI/AAAAAAAAA-U/vghhUpd6uO8/s1600/March+2011+B+197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXNoAh3f7b0/TjGMZFBc0ZI/AAAAAAAAA-U/vghhUpd6uO8/s320/March+2011+B+197.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So how do you keep your toddler entertained during times when they need to be quiet? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I would love your tips!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div></div></div></center>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-2315885856457203542011-07-27T00:05:00.000-07:002011-07-27T00:05:26.956-07:00My Little Mama (Wordless Wednesday)<div style="text-align: center;">I adore this picture.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Katie found a jar of baby-food peas and then eagerly asked me for a "soom!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIIcrGVpU7Y/Ti-4fSMABQI/AAAAAAAAA-M/YPMeZOjOoXk/s1600/2011+July+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DIIcrGVpU7Y/Ti-4fSMABQI/AAAAAAAAA-M/YPMeZOjOoXk/s320/2011+July+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then she took her dolly to the couch and gave her some lunch!</div><div style="text-align: center;">She was so sweet:</div><div style="text-align: center;">"That yummy, baby? Taste good? Take a bite!"</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-61987608478000665932011-07-26T00:14:00.000-07:002011-07-26T00:16:02.387-07:00Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/organic-thick-rolled-oats-tropical.html">Oatmeal</a> is one of my favorite options for breakfast, and I discovered recently an easy (and delicious) way to eat it regularly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Use your crockpot!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQkQ998bpPQ/Ti36INIn6wI/AAAAAAAAA-I/0OwdhescIN0/s1600/2011+July+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQkQ998bpPQ/Ti36INIn6wI/AAAAAAAAA-I/0OwdhescIN0/s320/2011+July+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The night before you plan to eat your oatmeal, in a glass measuring cup, (or any heat-safe bowl.) combine:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 cup water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 cup milk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 cup rolled or steel-cut oats</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1 Tb butter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dash of salt, (optional)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">spices, sweeteners, and fruits if desired:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">cinnamon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/03/tropical-traditions-raw-honey-review.html">honey</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">brown sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">chopped apples</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">raisins</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fill your crockpot half-full with water and turn it onto "Keep Warm" or "Low," (depending on the crockpot...experiment.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Voila! Delicious, hot, perfectly cooked oatmeal <i>waiting</i> for you when you wake up in the morning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is doing wonders for my recent commitment to make sure John has a home-cooked breakfast every morning, (no matter how early he leaves for work!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He loves oatmeal, (especially the <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/organic-thick-rolled-oats-tropical.html">Tropical Traditions Organic Thick Rolled Oats</a>...he commented on how good they were before he knew I was supposed to be reviewing them!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love knowing that he has a healthy breakfast when I know I will not be remotely conscious when he leaves for work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am also looking forward to using this regularly when I am pregnant (Lord willing!) again someday! You know how hard it is when you first wake up in the morning to even want to <i>think</i> about food, let alone try to <i>cook</i> something?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This handy hint solves that problem for ya! (Assuming, of course, that oatmeal sounds remotely palatable in your pregnant state. You can do this with any hot cereal: cream of wheat, 10-Grain (Katie's favorite,) steel-cut oats, you-name-it.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another handy feature of this method is the ability to cook more than one kind of cereal at a time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie does <i>not</i> care for oatmeal, but she loves 10-Grain, so along side our oatmeal, I sneak in a little half-pint of 10-Grain cereal mixture, (using the same proportions, and with almond milk to keep it dairy-free.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-17902394664647492522011-07-26T00:12:00.000-07:002011-07-26T00:17:04.073-07:00Organic Thick Rolled Oats - Tropical Traditions Review & Giveaway 8/9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v258/70/2/21958449446/n21958449446_935082_261.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After winning a bag of <a href="http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/organic_grains.htm">Tropical Traditions Organic Thick Rolled Oats</a> at ABCs & Garden Peas, I was thrilled when Tropical Traditions offered to giveaway away another bag to one of MY readers! (By the way, ABCs & Garden Peas has a <a href="http://abcsandgardenpeas.com/2011/07/06/win-aluminum-free-deodorant-from-tropical-traditions-ends-8-1/">giveaway going on right now</a> from Tropical Traditions for their natural deodorant! It still has super low entries and ends August 1st, so your chances are good!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've already shared with you my love of Tropical Traditions premium <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/tropical-traditions-coconut-oil-review.html">coconut oil</a> and their <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/03/tropical-traditions-raw-honey-review.html">raw honey</a>, and I'm excited to tell you about another of their excellent products!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/images/oats10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/images/oats10.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5lbs/$10.65 - 10lbs/$21.35</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"Oats provide high quality, well-balanced protein. Thick Rolled Oats and other whole grain oats are a good source of soluble fiber. Tropical Traditions Thick Rolled Oats are most commonly used for oatmeal, and cook in about 15 minutes. Thick Rolled Oats can also be used in granola and of course oatmeal cookies."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oatmeal is one of my favorite options for breakfast, and I discovered recently an easy (and delicious) way to eat it regularly!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Find out how to <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/overnight-crockpot-oatmeal.html">use your crockpot</a> to have a hot breakfast waiting for you in the morning!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQkQ998bpPQ/Ti36INIn6wI/AAAAAAAAA-I/0OwdhescIN0/s1600/2011+July+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hQkQ998bpPQ/Ti36INIn6wI/AAAAAAAAA-I/0OwdhescIN0/s320/2011+July+028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div> John and I both love these oats. The extra thickness gives them a pleasant chewiness, and they have a great flavor! We have enjoyed them a lot lately, (thanks to my latest crockpot discovery,) and we're hooked!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/">Tropical Traditions</a> also carries organic wheat, spelt, barley, millet, (another good breakfast cereal!) and rye grains among the premium quality foods they stock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To get delicious recipes for using Tropical Traditions' excellent foods, check out <a href="http://freecoconutrecipes.com/">FreeCoconutRecipes.com</a>.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com/"><img border="0" height="53" src="http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/images/freecoconutrecipes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tropical Traditions is giving away another 5lb bag of their Organic Thick Rolled Oats to one of my lucky readers!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><script id="rafl-script" type="text/javascript">
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<noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</noscript>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-35962919172320911492011-07-22T07:00:00.001-07:002011-07-22T07:00:03.807-07:00Recipe Linky! - Fun with Food Friday<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://ftmommyferg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Mama Chocolate"><img alt="Mama Chocolate" src="http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l490/Johanna_Conser/FunwithFoodFridayButtonOption1.jpg" /></a></div><center style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to this week's <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/fun-with-food-friday-coming-soon.html">Fun with Food Friday</a>! </span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This week I didn't get around to trying a recipe ahead of time, and I'm leaving to go camping for the weekend today, so we're going to try something new!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Today, I want you to link up your own recipe blog posts!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I will leave this linky open all week for you to continue adding.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I look forward to visiting your blogs and getting a peek into your kitchens, and hope you'll hop around and get some fresh ideas to spice up your cooking!<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Visit my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/p/recipe-archives.html">Recipe Archives</a> for inspiration!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</script>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-47145668529181908612011-07-22T00:20:00.000-07:002011-07-25T10:09:16.212-07:00I {Heart} Rafflecopter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By now, I'm sure you've heard of <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/">Rafflecopter</a>, and if you're lucky, you've already experienced first-hand how super-easy and quick it is for you to enter a giveaway on blogs that are using it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/eb161ad3048507b6c9410df94/images/splash.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/eb161ad3048507b6c9410df94/images/splash.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you haven't seen Rafflecopter in action yet, head over to my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/thirsties-duo-fab-fitted-duo-wrap.html">Thirsties cloth diaper giveaway</a> to check it out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is truly an amazing break-through for those giveaway addicts out there, (myself included!) helping you spend a fraction of the time to enter giveaways!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides the obvious benefits to you, I am really more excited about the benefits to bloggers who <i>host</i> these giveaways.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been using Google Forms for a long time to make entering my giveaways quicker and easier for <b>you </b>enter, but using them is <i>very</i> time intensive for me. Lindsey at So Easy Being Green, (who also has been using Google Forms,) recently posted the <a href="http://soeasybeinggreen-blog.com/2011/07/rafflecopter-thoughts-cont/">pros and cons of Rafflecopter</a> that she has seen so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lot of work goes into setting up each one of the giveaways that you enter, and the Rafflecopter app saves hosting bloggers valuable time and ensures greater accuracy and detection of invalid entries or "cheaters."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At this point, Rafflecopter is a by-invitation-only application, and <b>I have 5 invites left to pass on to any bloggers</b> out there who still need one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please comment with your email address if you'd like me to send you one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First come, first served! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Update: All my invites are gone! Enjoy, ladies!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004CEOZ4C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mamachoc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004CEOZ4C">Moody Mamas Maternity Nursing Maxi Dress - Black</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B004CEOZ4C&camp=217145&creative=399373" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-43897676973845535212011-07-21T18:36:00.000-07:002011-07-21T18:36:43.065-07:00Free Shipping at Lilla Rose!<center><br />
</center><center><a href="http://www.lillarose.biz/BeautifulLife"><img alt="Beautiful Life" src="http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx28/ofloveandbeauty/LillaRosesidebaradb.jpg" title="Beautiful Life" /></a></center><center><br />
</center><center><br />
</center><center>Now through Saturday, July 23rd, <a href="http://www.lillarose.biz/BeautifulLife">Lilla Rose</a> is offering free shipping on all orders of $20 or more!</center><center><br />
</center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g9M404nKgho/TW1tup_wkdI/AAAAAAAAAkA/qUnCde8PcYg/s200/167530_186819818006775_155873907768033_557493_5503539_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g9M404nKgho/TW1tup_wkdI/AAAAAAAAAkA/qUnCde8PcYg/s200/167530_186819818006775_155873907768033_557493_5503539_n.jpg" /></a></div><center><br />
</center><center>If you've never heard of this amazing company before or want more info, check out my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/03/lilla-rose-flexi-clip-giveaway-316.html">review of the Lilla Rose Flexi-Clip</a>, and see how it works for hair of all kinds: from my sister's long hair, (below her waist) to my short and layered hair, to my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/05/another-lilla-rose-giveaway-520.html"><i>2-year-old's</i> baby-fine hair!</a></center><center><br />
</center><center>Lilla Rose has something for every woman (or girl!) wanting to spruce up their 'do, including hair bands, bobby pins, hair sticks, and the new "You-Pins!"</center><center><br />
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</center>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-67778771751072350912011-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:002011-07-20T21:54:05.960-07:00Toddler Meals - Toddler Talk Thursday<center><br />
</center><center><a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/search/label/Toddler%20Talk%20Thursday/"><img src="http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5105/toddlertalk.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><center></center></center><center><br />
</center><center><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Check out the hosts of this fun weekly link-up,<a href="http://www.familylifeinlv.com/"> Family and Life in Las Vegas</a>, <a href="http://www.crazyaboutmybaybah.com/">Crazy about My Baybah</a>, and <a href="http://www.sippycupmom.com/">My Life as a Sippy Cup Mom</a>!</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This week's topic is:</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3013; line-height: 24px;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="color: #3f3013; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><strong>How does your toddler's mealtime go usually? How do you deal with not eating, or picky eaters?</strong></span></strong></span></strong></span><b>"</b></span></div></div></div></div></div></center><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Katie is not so much of a picky eater as a...NON-eater.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have always had trouble getting her to eat much, even from the <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/04/katies-birth-story.html">very beginning</a>, when we struggled with her lazy nursing and lack of weight gain.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcZ647Fwzw0/TieqkR2CRpI/AAAAAAAAA9o/pPLnAoLFnlI/s1600/March+2011+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcZ647Fwzw0/TieqkR2CRpI/AAAAAAAAA9o/pPLnAoLFnlI/s320/March+2011+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
We can get her to eat a little bit of almost anything, but it is rare for her to <i>want</i> to eat what we feel is enough.<br />
Two bites and she's "all done!"<br />
Even the above ice cream cake we made her for her birthday she only ate about half of it before she was satisfied, (even though she <i>loves</i> ice cream, and is always excited to eat it!)<br />
<br />
Victoria is another story, (thank goodness!)<br />
She can <i>stow it away!</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwA1NAVFMFo/Tievre60PTI/AAAAAAAAA98/1sJzNktzIeI/s1600/2011+June+314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BwA1NAVFMFo/Tievre60PTI/AAAAAAAAA98/1sJzNktzIeI/s320/2011+June+314.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
Much of it still ends up on her face, bib...and thumb these days, however. ;-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DEjXk0-ZaC0/Tieq19VJhjI/AAAAAAAAA9s/I3q34ocWOcI/s1600/2011+May+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DEjXk0-ZaC0/Tieq19VJhjI/AAAAAAAAA9s/I3q34ocWOcI/s320/2011+May+041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've started to not worry about Katie so much...she is growing and gaining weight, albeit slowly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She eats healthy food: some of her favorites include scrambled eggs, broccoli, and green beans, (!!) so we're good in that department.</div><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eB14_xVZ2ZE/TiernnbMmUI/AAAAAAAAA94/JLj-ochpfe4/s1600/2011+June+286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eB14_xVZ2ZE/TiernnbMmUI/AAAAAAAAA94/JLj-ochpfe4/s320/2011+June+286.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
I can always get her to drink quite a bit of a <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/breakfast-smoothies-fun-with-food.html">breakfast smoothie</a>, so we do that pretty often.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ4UHROYeMM/TierJeX9JYI/AAAAAAAAA9w/ut0xl06Aubg/s1600/2011+May+333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ4UHROYeMM/TierJeX9JYI/AAAAAAAAA9w/ut0xl06Aubg/s320/2011+May+333.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Right now we are in the midst of a no-dairy trial period to see if it helps her constantly runny nose and congestion go away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It has been difficult...I didn't realize how many of my go-to dishes included milk or cheese. Or chocolate! (Which almost always has milk in it.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It will be worth it, though, if we find that it clears up these issues she's been dealing with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the mean time, I'd love any dairy-free recipes or tips you can give me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
</div></div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-80742771982807338522011-07-20T11:11:00.000-07:002011-07-27T18:38:41.199-07:00Victoria's Birth Story<center><br />
</center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TNsDEPzRjII/AAAAAAAAAWg/BRVKVdFXMaE/s320/Victoria2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TNsDEPzRjII/AAAAAAAAAWg/BRVKVdFXMaE/s320/Victoria2.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<center style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</center><center style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TMcPsCGRjYI/AAAAAAAAASA/bCKnfQPAzvE/s320/new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Victoria is more than <strike>5 months</strike> 8 months old as I finally sit down to finish writing this, and I know some details are already becoming blurred. I had to click "Older Posts" on my Facebook profile 3 billion times to get all the way back to early November's status updates just to remind me of some of the time frames of the labor!</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TNsFbFrgS9I/AAAAAAAAAWs/V5XjFV1KWTQ/s320/Victoria3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TNsFbFrgS9I/AAAAAAAAAWs/V5XjFV1KWTQ/s320/Victoria3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the night of November 7th, I was puttering around on the computer wrapping up some blog posts and emails in preparation for the <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2010/11/its-here-merry-fluffy-christmas-event.html">Merry Fluffy Christmas</a> event coming up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">John, Katie and I had all come down with a nasty cold/flu and were feeling very under-the-weather. John had gone to bed feeling nasty at 5pm, promptly passed out, skipped dinner and slept all evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was chatting on Google Talk with my mama, telling her all the reasons that I was going to be happy to have this baby late. (Katie was a whole week "late," so of course I'd be late again, right?) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>we were sick - who wants to bring a baby into a house full of sick people? Who wants to be <i>in labor</i> while you're sick?</li>
</ul><ul><li>John's whole office was moving to a new location, and he was heading up most of the transfer of equipment, setting up phones and internet, and generally extremely busy.</li>
</ul><ul><li>My mama, (who was planning on staying with us for several days after the birth,) was in the thick of a kitchen and bathroom remodel project and all the decisions involved - not a good time to be leaving the house for a week</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TMcPsCGRjYI/AAAAAAAAASA/bCKnfQPAzvE/s320/new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TMcPsCGRjYI/AAAAAAAAASA/bCKnfQPAzvE/s320/new.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>Besides, I'd had no Braxton-Hicks, (during my entire pregnancy!) No intuitions of impending labor. My last baby was a week late. My due date wasn't even for another few days.<br />
<br />
After telling Mama how improbable and inconvenient it'd be for the baby to come on time, (trying to encourage myself to be patient and stay sane in my lumbering state,) I merrily posted the following as my Facebook status: </div><div><br />
</div><div><i> <b>Johanna</b> is thinking that this baby is staying in here for another week at least. We'll see...</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div> I was so proud of myself for feeling genuinely willing to wait another week or so under my less-than-comfortable circumstances.<br />
<br />
I wrote that status at 10:19pm. I shut down the computer, brushed my teeth, and <s>hopped</s> rolled into bed. Less than 5 minutes after lying down, I felt the first one. Before 11pm, I was on my hands and knees on the floor, dealing with pretty intense contractions, (all the pain was in my back, just like it was with Katie.)<br />
<br />
God just likes to remind us now and then that, yes, HE is the One in control.<br />
<br />
I didn't wake up John since I knew he wasn't feeling well and would need all the rest he could get if this was really happening. I also didn't want to jinx it by getting too excited.<br />
I waddled to the living room and moved between resting on the couch and rocking on my hands and knees on the floor during each contraction. They were still pretty far apart at 5-7 minutes, but intense.<br />
<br />
Still, I waited to wake up John. I turned on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PU8N0I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mamachoc-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001PU8N0I">"Little Dorrit."</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=B001PU8N0I" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
What better to help you get through the long early stages of labor during the wee hours of the night than a 7-hour movie?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MIKmREDY56Y/TZgS-TzsF3I/AAAAAAAAApQ/yMVuU1zcBxU/s1600/74843_463151868582_658223582_5764817_7261221_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MIKmREDY56Y/TZgS-TzsF3I/AAAAAAAAApQ/yMVuU1zcBxU/s320/74843_463151868582_658223582_5764817_7261221_n.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br />
At 2am, apparently my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o8BbuuBp70">laboring noises</a> finally woke up John, and he stumbled bleary-eyed out of the bedroom, saw me on my hands and knees on the floor, and puzzled, (not to mention, half-asleep,) said, "What are you doing?!"<br />
<br />
"Um. I think I'm in labor."<br />
<br />
I don't know why I said it that way. To break it to him gently? I didn't <i>think</i> I was in labor. <b>I <i>was</i> in labor.</b><br />
<br />
I was grateful that he was now with me, as I was really getting to the point where I needed someone to give me counter-pressure on my back.<br />
<i> (Both of my labors have been 100% in my back. I guess I don't even know what a "normal" contraction feels like!)</i><br />
<br />
<i></i> We decided to officially admit I was in labor and we should probably finish up those last things on the "Before Baby Comes" to-do list.<br />
By this time there was no way I wanted to do a contraction without John there, rubbing my back and giving me support. So in between each contraction, (they were still 5 minutes apart,) we worked together to get the water-proof mattress cover on the bed and change the bedding to the I-don't-mind-if-they-get-ruined sheets.<br />
We shoveled miscellaneous clutter from counters and dressers out of the way into boxes and hid them in the closet, (partly to be out of the way for the midwives, but mostly so our room wouldn't look like a dump in the pictures that were sure to be taken and kept for eternity. Who wants your untidiness immortalized for eternity?)<br />
<br />
I got into the shower to see if that would give me some relief while John finished up some things. I got out pretty quickly...it was better when John was rubbing my back.<br />
<br />
It was exciting, bustling around in the middle of the night together. I'd yell "another one's coming!" plop down on the floor and John would be there. When it was over, I'd get up and we'd bustle some more.<br />
<br />
I think it was about 3am when we called our midwife, Carol. Things weren't going too fast yet, so she said she'd get a shower and gather her things and be over.<br />
<br />
Carol arrived about 4:30. Our chatter woke up Katie, (<i>way </i>too early for a sick little girl!) She caught the excitement, though, and was cheerful. When I got down on my hands and knees for the next contraction, she joyfully exclaimed, "Mama! Horsey!" and John caught her just before she clambered aboard!<br />
<br />
Carol checked and found me at about 3cm. I'll confess I was secretly hoping to be a little farther along than <i>that. </i>The contractions were still 5 minutes apart, but they were doozies!<br />
<br />
We discovered that the baby was still <a href="http://www.naturalbirthandbabycare.com/baby-position.html">posterior</a>, most likely in part due to my <a href="http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/newjersey/tummystrength.html">diastasis</a>, (abdominal muscle separation) from my pregnancy with Katie. This position is likely to cause back labor...<i>check!</i><br />
<br />
We'd called my mama about the same time as we called Carol, and she packed her bags and started the almost 2-hour drive! My two sisters <a href="http://theerraticmuse.blogspot.com/">Bethany</a> and <a href="http://fashionandmodesty.blogspot.com/">Susannah</a> came with her. Two of my bestest friends were on their way, too: <a href="http://journeychronicles.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a>, (my home-birthing buddy ;-) and Hannah, who happens to also now be my sister-in-law!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/154477_459154953582_658223582_5717751_5921183_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/154477_459154953582_658223582_5717751_5921183_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>My mama-in-law arrived from next door shortly before the rest showed up somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30, and we started the par-tay!<br />
<br />
Somebody made breakfast. Ladies came and went through the bedroom as I alternated between resting in my uber-comfy rocking chair and...the floor.<br />
<br />
Carol's two assistants showed up sometime during that early morning, also.<br />
We had quite the crowd.<br />
I loved it. I know some ladies prefer to be more alone and focused in a private sort of setting. For me, it was wonderful to be surrounded by supportive people that I knew and loved.<br />
Because of the 5 minute breaks between contractions, we were able to chat and generally have a jolly time.<br />
<br />
I believe it was sometime around 8am when I got in the tub. I had Katie in the water and loved it and hoped to repeat the experience.<br />
The baby, (I guess I should refer to her as Victoria, now, huh?) was stubbornly staying in awkward positions. Never quite the same, mind you. It seemed like every time we checked, she'd skooched a little that way or this way, but never to an optimal position. The hands-and-knees deal, besides being more comfortable for back labor, is supposed to help move a baby to a better position. Victoria was a determined little gal, though, and quite comfortable where she was, thankyouverymuch.<br />
<br />
I was at 9.5 cm when Carol got a call at about noon from another client in active labor, (45 minutes away!) She rushed off to check her out, (leaving me feeling calm in the capable hands of my husband and the assistant midwives,) ended up delivering that baby, quickly wrapping everything up there, and coming back to have me with still no baby at 2pm.<br />
I'd tried getting out of the tub and standing/squatting during contractions to try to help move baby down and get some possible pushing leverage. I could just tell though, that it wasn't pushing time. My body knew it and I knew it. The contractions still kept up at 4-5 minutes apart, but they were getting nasty.<br />
<br />
When Carol got back, she decided we needed to do something to help her budge. I got out of the tub and onto the bed. We decided to break my water and then we did a couple contractions on the bed while she held back the last bit of cervix to see if that would help any.<br />
It didn't. I could just tell that any attempts at pushing were going to be fruitless...the lil' bugger was still stuck in the wrong position and she wasn't coming down.<br />
<br />
I was getting frustrated. I wasn't so much at the "let's get this OVER with," so much as "can we at least get <i>somewhere </i>with this?" Contractions were still no closer than 4 or 5 minutes, but so intense each time, and we just weren't getting anywhere...I'd been stuck at 9.5 cm for over two hours now.<br />
<br />
Looking back now, I am so grateful to have been home during this delivery. At most hospitals, I would likely have been having all kinds of interventions pushed at me by this point to hurry things up. Some of those interventions can lead to distress on the baby which can land you with a C-section before you know what's happening!<br />
<br />
I later found out that during this time some of my labor-pals were starting to have thoughts that there could be a hospital transfer in the future. I'm glad this thought didn't enter my head, because it probably would have just freaked me out and made me start to think of all the things that might be wrong.<br />
<br />
All the prayers that our family and friends were sending up were being heard, however, because I just seemed to know that we could do this...it just might take awhile.<br />
<br />
Carol suggested I get into an exaggerated "running" position on my side for a "few contractions" as it can be helpful to get posterior babies into a better position. I had to bring one knee up towards my chin as far as I could, and the other leg backwards the other direction as far as I could.<br />
<br />
<i>Oh. my. word.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
This was the first I had ever had the feeling of "losing my mind." I literally had to go to another place to get through the next 45 minutes.<br />
<br />
A "few contractions" turned into "several contractions" as Victoria would still not budge. I was so grateful at this point to be surrounded my so many loving, supporting people. Hannah was sort of my focal point, and somebody was holding my hands and there was someone supporting each foot so I had something to shove against to keep from writhing.<br />
Just having everyone there holding me made the difference. I just might have officially gone off the brink without them.<br />
<br />
I remember hearing a couple ladies asking Carol hopefully if I could maybe be done with that position now...I think it was pretty painful to watch, especially for the mothers there who could sympathize with my pain!<br />
<br />
But Carol was pretty sure that this position was what would finally get the baby out, and I'm so glad she encouraged me to stay there, despite the <strike>hell</strike> discomfort I was experiencing.<br />
<br />
She was right.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, the baby was coming. It was the weirdest feeling to go from horrible, fruitless <b>pain</b>, to "woo hoo! This baby is a-comin' OUT!"<br />
I didn't even have time to say anything or tell anybody what was going on. I just flipped over, (somebody must have got some pillows behind me right away,) and I started pushing that baby out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Talk about the urge to push. There is no way on God's green earth that I could have stopped that baby from shooting out. Less than 4 pushes later, a little before 3pm, I was pulling sweet Victoria up onto my chest and we knew we had <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2010/11/shes-here.html">another beautiful daughter</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsNBEtDren0/TicVwPBTRjI/AAAAAAAAA9k/_153Ky4_nwk/s1600/10+11+07_0179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wsNBEtDren0/TicVwPBTRjI/AAAAAAAAA9k/_153Ky4_nwk/s320/10+11+07_0179.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Amanda later<a href="http://journeychronicles.blogspot.com/2010/11/labor-of-righteous-leads-to-life.html"> wrote about the labor</a>, and you'll get some more accurate details there, since she wrote it the day after (not 8 months later.) Coincidentally, she is 11...12? days overdue with her 4th as of today, which is probably why I've been thinking about labor which inspired me to get my rear in gear and get this posted.<br />
When she was there with me during Victoria's labor, they had <i>just</i> found out about this pregnancy. Feel free to<a href="http://journeychronicles.blogspot.com/2011/07/no-woman-has-ever-been-pregnant-forever.html"> go assure her</a> that no woman has been pregnant forever...not yet anyways.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TNsO-3AjnOI/AAAAAAAAAW0/Mygf_FKl998/s320/Victoria6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TNsO-3AjnOI/AAAAAAAAAW0/Mygf_FKl998/s320/Victoria6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFg0ljApYVI/TZgS_XuZQLI/AAAAAAAAApU/k7LZhMHS8MQ/s1600/76008_463151608582_658223582_5764808_7441176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFg0ljApYVI/TZgS_XuZQLI/AAAAAAAAApU/k7LZhMHS8MQ/s320/76008_463151608582_658223582_5764808_7441176_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">2 weeks old</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was worth it, don't you think? ;-)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">See <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/04/katies-birth-story.html">Katie's homebirth story</a>, and how we <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/bringing-new-baby-home-toddler-talk.html">prepared her for Victoria's arrival.</a><br />
<br />
Linked up at:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://day2dayjoys.blogspot.com/search/label/Healthy%202day%20Wednesdays">Healthy 2day Wednesday</a><br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://raisingmightyarrows.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Raising Mighty Arrows" src="http://sites.google.com/site/raisingmightyarrows/bbcbd/heatherkbutton.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homemaker-by-choice.com/search/label/Blog%20Hops"><img border="0" src="http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/zz13/4everhis_09/weeklongbloghop.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<center></center>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-51890636199130423782011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:002011-07-20T00:00:48.922-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Trampoline Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hy4YRfbiLik/TiT2LuMsYjI/AAAAAAAAD_E/cVp5tysRwMY/s640/129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hy4YRfbiLik/TiT2LuMsYjI/AAAAAAAAD_E/cVp5tysRwMY/s400/129.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My sister, "Polka Dot" just wrote about her stay with us on her <a href="http://fashionandmodesty.blogspot.com/2011/07/some-especially-superb-days-of-my-life.html">lovely blog</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take a look to get a little peek into our lives!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-64402511743387897532011-07-18T12:31:00.000-07:002011-07-21T15:30:17.742-07:00Thirsties Duo Fab Fitted & Duo Wrap Review & Giveaway - 8/1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkMon6-CmTY/TiSJu_iBDuI/AAAAAAAAA9g/_IrHzxMIeY8/s1600/60007_438074681199_88735571199_5283658_4084316_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MkMon6-CmTY/TiSJu_iBDuI/AAAAAAAAA9g/_IrHzxMIeY8/s1600/60007_438074681199_88735571199_5283658_4084316_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2010/09/peek-into-my-diaper-stash.html">long been a fan of Thirsties</a> covers, and I was recently sent one of their Duo Fab Fitted diapers and a Duo Wrap to review!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/products_zoom_1600x1600/1305786739duowrapsalicebrights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/products_zoom_1600x1600/1305786739duowrapsalicebrights.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duo Wrap in "Alice Brights" with Snaps</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/">Thirsties</a> is a small, (but growing!) cloth diaper company committed to greener parenting and Eco Friendly solutions, not to mention 100% USA Made quality! Erin, founder of Thirsties, started this business with an old sewing machine and $100 five years ago. Through her hard work and diligence, the company is now one of the leaders in the cloth diaper industry. Their diapers are now made by work at home mothers, and very close to the warehouse, reducing carbon output. Their customer service reps are experienced cloth diapering moms, an offer their knowledge to their retailers and customers alike.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have nothing to say except good things about <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/">Thirsties</a> and their products.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/duo-wrap/">Duo Wraps</a> coupled with regular (cheap!) Indian cotton prefolds make up the main part of my "fluff stash."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>Grows with your baby so you only need two sizes from birth to potty!</li>
<li>Leg gussets for advanced leak protection</li>
<li>Pliable, breathable ultra-comfortable waterproof fabric</li>
<li>Snap or Aplix hook-and-loop closures</li>
<li>Wipe clean between washings</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">During the first year and a half of cloth diapering, I used Thirsties original sized <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/diaper-cover/">diaper covers</a>, (and I am using them again now with Victoria,) and as Katie got bigger, I bought some of the size 2 <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/duo-wrap/">Duo Wraps</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The occasional time that I have had one of my girls in a disposable during their breast-fed poo days, (sorry if TMI,) and we were unlucky enough to get a BM in there, it was pretty much <i>guaranteed</i> to explode up the back and out the legs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The leg gussets and elastic around the waist on the Thirsties duo wraps or covers do a wonderful job of containing everything, and I almost <i>never</i> have leaks...especially from newborn poo, which is the <i>worst</i> kind of leak. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For Katie, I pretty much cannot get a pocket diaper stuffed enough to hold up all night for her without leakage, so I regularly use a Thirsties wrap with doubled up prefolds and maybe an extra insert and the wrap <b>holds it all!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm going to have a struggle now to stay content with my cheap-o prefolds now, though...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">because the <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/duo-fab-fitted/">Duo Fab Fitted</a> together with the Duo Wrap is now my favorite diaper system!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/products_zoom_1600x1600/1305791644duofabfittedorchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/products_zoom_1600x1600/1305791644duofabfittedorchid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duo Fab Fitted in Orchid with Snaps</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With the Duo Wraps, this is a much trimmer way to diaper than using prefolds I have...and considerably less awkward to get on a squirmy baby than a prefold/wrap combo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/product_details/duo_fab_diapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/product_details/duo_fab_diapers.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I tried size 2, which is recommended for 18-40lbs or 9-36 months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is working beautifully for both Katie, (27lbs/28months,) <b><i>and</i></b> Victoria, (15lbs/8months.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was particularly surprised to find it worked that well on Victoria who is a skinny, long little gal, (and 3lbs under the recommended weight!) but it is my favorite diaper combo for her right now!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is more trim and so much less <i>lumpy</i> than a prefold!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/product_details/duo-fab-fitteds-views.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/product_details/duo-fab-fitteds-views.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For Katie, I can slip in an extra insert in the pocket of the Duo Fab Fitted for extra absorbency when she needs it, also!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are six different color options at this time for the <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/duo-fab-fitted/">Duo Fab Fitted</a>: honeydew, mango, meadow, ocean blue, orchid, and white, and there are even more options for the <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/duo-wrap/">Duo Wrap</a>, including four prints!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/products_zoom_1600x1600/1305935333dffaplixoceanblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/_images/products_zoom_1600x1600/1305935333dffaplixoceanblue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duo Fab Fitted in Ocean Blue with Aplix</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Buy Your Own:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/catalog.htm">Request a free catalog</a> of Thirsties products!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Purchase directly from Thirsties or visit their <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/where-to-buy/retailer-locator/">Retailer Locator</a> page to find a store near you or to find which of your favorite online diaper shops carry Thirsties products.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/duo-wrap/">Duo Wrap</a> cost $12.75 for solids and $13.75 for prints, and the <a href="http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/products/diapers/duo-fab-fitted/">Duo Fab Fitted</a> cost $17.00 each</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Win Your Own!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thirsties is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">giving away</span> another Duo Wrap and Duo Fab Fitted in the winner's color choices to one lucky Mama Chocolate reader!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am excited to use Rafflecopter for the first time! Please let me know what you think!</div><br />
<br />
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<noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</noscript></div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-50983240395960498242011-07-18T09:07:00.000-07:002011-07-18T09:07:52.844-07:00New Photography Contest Site<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZPbrX3Mq_I/TiRYMRjlFGI/AAAAAAAAA9U/34PY0I5dTwc/s1600/164851_194442153904936_193024284046723_852457_6641234_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PZPbrX3Mq_I/TiRYMRjlFGI/AAAAAAAAA9U/34PY0I5dTwc/s1600/164851_194442153904936_193024284046723_852457_6641234_n.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ontopofthetripod.com/">On Top of the Tripod</a> is launching today!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I just wanted to bring your attention to this brand new photography contest website, where you can come to vote or come to submit your own photos to be voted on!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Both the photographer <i>and </i>the voters get a chance to win Amazon gift cards! (Yay!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Visit <a href="http://www.ontopofthetripod.com/">On Top of the Tripod</a> for more details, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/On-Top-of-the-Tripod/193024284046723">like them on Facebook</a> to stay updated!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-2605726851672178242011-07-16T13:45:00.000-07:002011-07-18T10:45:43.371-07:00WINNERS! T. Ashley Tart Warmer & Leading Lady<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TG1aKavs-KI/AAAAAAAAAEI/oK_w1IhdFDM/s1600/winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TG1aKavs-KI/AAAAAAAAAEI/oK_w1IhdFDM/s320/winner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">We have the some more winners!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZN4knhC4gA/TgOwkegG_dI/AAAAAAAAA6w/EKPLxRwl88k/s1600/White+Tart+Warmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZN4knhC4gA/TgOwkegG_dI/AAAAAAAAA6w/EKPLxRwl88k/s1600/White+Tart+Warmer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/t-ashley-candle-co-tart-warmer-review.html">T. Ashley Candle Co. Tart Warmer giveaway</a> ended with 259 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #108.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Entry # 108 is...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Laura Jager!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">**************</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoGDTepKhKE/TZIfJZLRpjI/AAAAAAAAAoM/3_iweJ34a7A/s320/LeadingLadyLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoGDTepKhKE/TZIfJZLRpjI/AAAAAAAAAoM/3_iweJ34a7A/s320/LeadingLadyLogo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/leading-lady-nursing-wear-review.html">$30 Leading Lady gift card giveaway</a> ended with 414 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #81.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Entry #81 is...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Janelle Prentice!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Congratulations to the winners! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Update: Both winners have responded and been confirmed!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Watch for exciting <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/p/giveaways-winners.html">new giveaways</a> coming soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><u><br />
</u></b></div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-50254576691536258462011-07-15T16:12:00.000-07:002011-07-19T09:36:36.131-07:00Nutella Balls - Fun with Food Friday<center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://ftmommyferg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Mama Chocolate"><img alt="Mama Chocolate" src="http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l490/Johanna_Conser/FunwithFoodFridayButtonOption1.jpg" /></a> </span><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to this week's <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/fun-with-food-friday-coming-soon.html">Fun with Food Friday</a>! </span></center><center><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">(ALERT: Read to the bottom for extra bonus entries opportunity!)</span></i></center><center><i><br />
</i></center><center><center><br />
</center></center><center>This delicious recipe comes from reader Anna Pry!</center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NUTELLA BALLS</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DL4oB7U9txA/ThdpMddHDwI/AAAAAAAAA7w/7W6XZJUCD58/s1600/DSC_0915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DL4oB7U9txA/ThdpMddHDwI/AAAAAAAAA7w/7W6XZJUCD58/s320/DSC_0915.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><ul style="border-collapse: collapse;"><li style="text-align: left;">1 cup hazelnuts</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1/4 cup cocoa powder (Anna used dark cocoa, I just used what I had which was regular)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1 tablespoon canola oil (I was <i>out</i> of oil, so I used butter!)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">5 tablespoons agave nectar</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">1 tablespoon flax meal, (optional, but highly recommended)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">pinch of salt</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><i>Directions from Anna:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Place hazelnuts on a rimmed cookie sheet and roast for 10 minutes.</span></li>
</ol></div></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etkBJT3WxdQ/Thdpsz-k0vI/AAAAAAAAA70/-0Bb4WK9_V4/s1600/DSC_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-etkBJT3WxdQ/Thdpsz-k0vI/AAAAAAAAA70/-0Bb4WK9_V4/s320/DSC_0902.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">In a food processor, add all ingredients - including the hazelnuts - and blend until the nuts are pretty much not nut-like anymore. The mixture should be thick.</span></li>
</ol></div></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyLHs-AeqWQ/ThdrOLFoJzI/AAAAAAAAA78/HLRu9FaNzxk/s1600/DSC_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oyLHs-AeqWQ/ThdrOLFoJzI/AAAAAAAAA78/HLRu9FaNzxk/s320/DSC_0918.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></center><center><br />
</center><center><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o0LZj8PQUZo/ThdqwUi4dQI/AAAAAAAAA74/CvcS-N-tZhY/s1600/DSC_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o0LZj8PQUZo/ThdqwUi4dQI/AAAAAAAAA74/CvcS-N-tZhY/s320/DSC_0920.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></center><center><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Line another cookie sheet with parchment paper and drop onto it heaping tablespoon-sized dollops of the mixture.</span></li>
</ol></div></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5HmC2YZe48/Thdruop4gCI/AAAAAAAAA8A/RSTaIM1hAb8/s1600/DSC_0926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O5HmC2YZe48/Thdruop4gCI/AAAAAAAAA8A/RSTaIM1hAb8/s320/DSC_0926.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Eat warm, but I advise refrigerating beforehand. Will make them turn out more like balls. Keep cold and should last all week, (if you don't eat them first!)</span></li>
</ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></div></div></span></center><center>So, not caring for the rather drab look of the balls, I got clever and rolled them in cocoa powder.</center><center>BAD idea.</center><center><br />
</center></center><center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hGUjCP84n4/ThdwgflmHiI/AAAAAAAAA8E/9LGn65JhXi4/s1600/DSC_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hGUjCP84n4/ThdwgflmHiI/AAAAAAAAA8E/9LGn65JhXi4/s320/DSC_0931.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For starters...it made them messy:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yJ1Ilf4vgo/Thdx5WBc4dI/AAAAAAAAA8M/qiRQl0jq04Q/s1600/DSC_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yJ1Ilf4vgo/Thdx5WBc4dI/AAAAAAAAA8M/qiRQl0jq04Q/s400/DSC_0948.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Secondly, 2-year-old Katie's first reaction was to tell me, "They not taste very good, Mama," and politely set it back on the counter, without having even bitten into it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cocoa powder on the outside was too bitter to her, and even to me & Suzy, the insides just aren't sweet enough to quite counteract the bitterness of the cocoa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once you start chewing, it's not a big deal. You get the deliciousness of the insides.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raF-9N5wCcE/ThdxYmuLCpI/AAAAAAAAA8I/7Ckyq6to4cQ/s1600/DSC_0942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-raF-9N5wCcE/ThdxYmuLCpI/AAAAAAAAA8I/7Ckyq6to4cQ/s320/DSC_0942.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I cut one in half and persuaded Katie to try again. She still wasn't too sure, but she ate the whole thing, so I'm sure when I make them again, (and leave them alone!) she will be much more enthusiastic!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AEKoigRpHI/ThdyZKZQVfI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/2goUr8GB6wE/s1600/DSC_0975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0AEKoigRpHI/ThdyZKZQVfI/AAAAAAAAA8Q/2goUr8GB6wE/s320/DSC_0975.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My cocoa-powder-fail aside, these are great treats, and come at a perfect time for us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just embarked on a 3 (or maybe 4 if I can make it!) week trial of <b>no dairy and reduced white sugar </b>for Katie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I get myself some canola oil before I make them next time so I don't use butter, these will qualify! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks, Anna!</div><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">See what Michelle at <a href="http://ftmommyferg.blogspot.com/">The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a <strike>First</strike> Second Time Mom</a> has cooked up this week</span>!</center></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please check my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/p/recipe-archives.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">archives</span></a> for more delicious recipes!</span></center><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></center><center>You can get <b>10 extra entries into any ONE giveaway of your choice for <i>each</i> recipe you submit</b>, (you can send me as many as you like!)</center></center><br />
<div align="center">Just send the recipe(s) to <a href="mailto:mamachocolateblog@gmail.com">mamachocolateblog@gmail.com</a> and add the entries into the appropriate box on the giveaway entry form.<br />
<br />
Linked up at <a href="http://abcsandgardenpeas.com/2011/07/14/hungry-toddler-hop-week-1">ABCs & Garden Peas' Hungry Toddler Hop</a>!<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://abcsandgardenpeas.com/" target="_blank" title="ABCs and Garden Peas"><img alt="ABCs and Garden Peas" src="http://abcsandgardenpeas.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/img_1858.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div></div><br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://jasmine-aboverubies.blogspot.com/search/label/Domestically%20Divine%20Link-Up"><img src="http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/jasminecucuta/HealthyMoms-1-1.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.oursimplecountrylife.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src=" http://i641.photobucket.com/albums/uu140/simplycountrylife/SimplyHomemakingButton2-1.png " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.time-warp-wife.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mBDOgI2CpKc/TSgYwKLdB4I/AAAAAAAAA68/Da4RHbwfjew/s1600/Titus_2sdays_button.png" /></a></div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-52124194345043068132011-07-14T00:11:00.000-07:002011-07-20T11:45:01.484-07:00Bringing a New Baby Home - Toddler Talk Thursday<center><a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/search/label/Toddler%20Talk%20Thursday/"><img src="http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5105/toddlertalk.png" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><center></center></center><center><br />
</center><center><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Check out the hosts of this fun weekly link-up,<a href="http://www.familylifeinlv.com/"> Family and Life in Las Vegas</a>, <a href="http://www.crazyaboutmybaybah.com/">Crazy about My Baybah</a>, and <a href="http://www.sippycupmom.com/">My Life as a Sippy Cup Mom</a>!</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This week's topic is:</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>"</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3f3013; line-height: 24px;"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><span style="color: #3f3013; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px;"><strong>How did/would/will you handle bringing a new baby home with a toddler in the house?</strong></span></strong></span></strong></span><b>"</b></span></div></div></div></div></center><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I am grateful to say that Katie, at 19 months old, did wonderfully when Victoria joined our family.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWqYYPVU2ls/Th6CJigMbQI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Ag6WdZ36bBo/s1600/10+11+07_0219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWqYYPVU2ls/Th6CJigMbQI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Ag6WdZ36bBo/s400/10+11+07_0219.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have always been of the opinion that <b>telling</b> your child how you're still going to love them just as much when the new baby comes can actually <i>give</i> them the idea that you <i>might not.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tsg8tu4u0p4/Th6BREG5EzI/AAAAAAAAA8k/JixL4_RyK2s/s1600/10+11+07_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tsg8tu4u0p4/Th6BREG5EzI/AAAAAAAAA8k/JixL4_RyK2s/s320/10+11+07_0214.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We assumed Katie was going to love the new baby and acted accordingly...she never thought to think anything different. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We continually reinforced to her that a new baby is a <i>good thing.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Showing</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>your toddler that you still love them is obviously crucial. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made sure Katie got plenty of attention when Victoria came around, (especially since she happened to be very sick at the time and needed plenty of cuddling, poor girl.)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMK1nBD2N5s/Th6Bsw25wFI/AAAAAAAAA8o/Dc-PufHjIwo/s1600/10+11+07_0216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zMK1nBD2N5s/Th6Bsw25wFI/AAAAAAAAA8o/Dc-PufHjIwo/s320/10+11+07_0216.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In preparation for Victoria's arrival, we told her with excitement how there was a baby in Mama's tummy, (she was <i>very</i> interested in this idea,) and how it was going to be so fun to have a tiny little baby to cuddle and kiss!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She liked to put her dolls under her shirt and have a "baby in my tummy!" too. ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/victorias-birth-story.html">Victoria was born</a>, Katie was almost immediately in the room per our request, thanks to some auntie.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She was very excited about the baby, (and didn't want to leave Mama & Baby!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When Papa came in to give Victoria kisses, Katie basically indicated he needed to back off from <i>her</i> baby!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tB5N5JFWKQA/Th6Cqu_NQ3I/AAAAAAAAA8w/aAOK9ibsOQw/s1600/10+11+07_0325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tB5N5JFWKQA/Th6Cqu_NQ3I/AAAAAAAAA8w/aAOK9ibsOQw/s320/10+11+07_0325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At that point we were pretty sure everything was going to be okay! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Over the next week or so, she went through an "acting out" stage, but I think it was more in part to her not feeling well, and testing to see how much she could get away with while Nana was here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She never once acted jealous or resentful of Victoria and was very gentle and sweet around her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now they're becoming little buddies...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qP64mqPz_N4/Th6Mq1SO-XI/AAAAAAAAA80/e4lMECgwvWE/s1600/March+2011+B+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qP64mqPz_N4/Th6Mq1SO-XI/AAAAAAAAA80/e4lMECgwvWE/s320/March+2011+B+016.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course, there are moments...especially as Victoria has recently started crawling, which means she can "steal" Katie's toys, already causing all sorts of drama.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UupxXsEZQQ/Th6OmhtsvxI/AAAAAAAAA84/PLvGjytMvvg/s1600/March+2011+065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UupxXsEZQQ/Th6OmhtsvxI/AAAAAAAAA84/PLvGjytMvvg/s320/March+2011+065.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I always loved having sisters, and I'm so glad that God blessed each of my girls with a sister.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I pray that they continue to get along and grow in love for each other as they become adults!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linked up at <a href="http://raisingmightyarrows.blogspot.com/2011/07/week-long-blog-hop.html">Raising Mighty Arrows</a>:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://raisingmightyarrows.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Raising Mighty Arrows" src="http://sites.google.com/site/raisingmightyarrows/bbcbd/heatherkbutton.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">at <a href="http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/homemaking-link-up-35/">Raising Homemakers</a>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/homemaking-link-up-35/" target="_blank"><img src="http://raisinghomemakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/RH-LinkUp-150.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...at <a href="http://www.homemaker-by-choice.com/2011/07/week-long-blog-hop-716-723.html">Homemaker By Choice</a>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homemaker-by-choice.com/search/label/Blog%20Hops"><img border="0" src="http://i809.photobucket.com/albums/zz13/4everhis_09/weeklongbloghop.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and at Toddler Talk Thursday:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><script src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=68139" type="text/javascript">
</script>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-85188611493411259352011-07-13T00:46:00.000-07:002011-07-12T21:46:52.276-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Papa's Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MB8bXf7cI0M/ThzOgJy1R8I/AAAAAAAAA8c/SyW9bsQmGZI/s1600/DSC_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MB8bXf7cI0M/ThzOgJy1R8I/AAAAAAAAA8c/SyW9bsQmGZI/s320/DSC_0669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">GAH. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I <b><u>love</u> </b>these people.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Much.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(thanks to <a href="http://fashionandmodesty.blogspot.com/">Polka Dot</a> for the photo!)</span></div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-77639252791913724802011-07-12T12:08:00.000-07:002011-07-12T15:41:53.858-07:00A Blogtastic Extravaganza 2.0!<center><a href="http://www.mysillymonkeys.com/search/label/abe2.0" target="open"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/missjess2004/Blog%20Ads/blogtasticbtn.gif" /></a></center><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">Who's excited about A.B.E. 2.0?!</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">I can't wait!</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 20px;"><strong>When, Where, & Who:</strong><br />
Starting August 17th at 12:00AM EST and running until August 21st at 11:59PM EST, 100 elite blogs will be hosting awesome giveaway packages, (each will value $50 or MORE!) that you will be able to jump from blog to blog and enter! If you have a blog, I believe there are still a few openings! </span></span><br />
<span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 20px;">Apply for approval at <a href="http://mysillymonkeys.com/2011/03/a-blogtastic-extravaganza-2-0/">My Silly Monkeys</a>!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">I'm putting together at least two prize packages for you, and there are some awesome things in store for you!</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">Check out the amazing prizes we had in <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/01/blogtastic-extravaganza-natural-baby.html">January</a>...this time around is going to be just as good!</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">I'm planning on doing another <b>"Natural Baby"</b> (cloth diapers, etc,) and another<b> "Princess" </b>package...we'll see what else I might be able to put together for you!</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">If you are a company that is interested in some amazing quality exposure, and would like to sponsor Mama Chocolate, please contact me at jccchocolate@gmail.com.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">I am still accepting applications and new ideas, and would be glad to send you more info on what you, as a business, can get from this Blogtastic Extravaganza!</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</div></div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-88765191026616782112011-07-12T11:32:00.000-07:002011-07-12T11:32:17.269-07:00Amy Adele Stationery Review<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPeaaa7e83b88d2f65720030da315db525" style="display: none;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amyadele.com/"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://www.tomoson.com/uploads/promotions/6297_8575_2011_06_16_10_30_40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Amy Adele's artwork is perfect for so many occasions, and you can find pretty much any type of card, invitation, announcements or label you could possibly want on <a href="http://amyadele.com/">amyadele.com</a>! (Even adorable t-shirts & <a href="http://www.amyadele.com/gifts/clothing-for-babies/">onesies</a>!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got to review a set of <a href="http://www.amyadele.com/stationery/flat-card-stationery/">customized note cards</a>, and I chose the <a href="http://www.amyadele.com/stationery/flat-card-stationery/pink-happy-daisy-row-flat-card.htm">Pink Happy Daisy Row</a> design for Katie.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/sc414/sc414_card.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/sc414/sc414_card.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The process for personalizing the cards on the website was simple and easy to navigate. You have a lot of control over the font style, font size, and where on the card the lettering is placed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/sc591g/sc591g_card.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/sc591g/sc591g_card.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amyadele.com/stationery/flat-card-stationery/Toddler-Gym-for-Girls-Flat-Card.htm">Toddler Gym for Girls</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are so many adorable designs to choose from...I had a difficult time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/sc067/sc067_card.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/sc067/sc067_card.gif" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amyadele.com/stationery/flat-card-stationery/monkey-flat-card.htm">Monkey</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What's more, every paper product from Amy Adele is <b>printed on paper made of 100% Post Consumer Recycled Fiber! </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sourced from one of the finest paper manufacturers in the world, their paper is:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">Acid free & processed chlorine free</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Made with 100% certified renewable energy</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Procured through responsible use of forest resources</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Besides their paper products for baby announcements and more, I am keeping <a href="http://www.amyadele.com/gifts/clothing-for-girls/">this t-shirt</a> in mind for if/when God chooses to bless us with another little one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we became pregnant with Victoria, I looked for a "big sister" shirt everywhere for Katie, but never ended up finding one I liked...I LOVE this one:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/ts463g/ts463g_card.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://www.amyadele.com/attachments//cards/ts463g/ts463g_card.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Check out Amy Adele's impressive <a href="http://www.amyadele.com/content/satisfaction-guarantee/">100% satisfaction guarantee</a>, and get <a href="http://www.amyadele.com/content/coupons/">free shipping</a> through the end of July by using code JULYFREE11, or sign up for their newsletter to receive your unique code for 20% off your first order!</span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMeaaa7e83b88d2f65720030da315db525">Tomoson.com</a> created by <a href="http://www.webbizideas.com/">WebBizIdeas.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/">Product review</a> & <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/">giveaway</a> Disclosure.</span>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-50791939930286173162011-07-11T14:23:00.000-07:002011-07-11T14:23:08.206-07:00Undercover Mama Nursing Shirt Deal!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gaggleofchicks.com/r/jc21525"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6CFWw59PCFo/ThtlUhQrrVI/AAAAAAAAA8U/DJ9DeTJHOGs/s320/155080_172924309407016_127251717307609_403535_1332969_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today and tomorrow ONLY you can get the Undercover Mama nursing shirt for only $15, (with free shipping if you order by 7/31/11!) by using the <a href="http://www.gaggleofchicks.com/r/jc21525">deal at Gaggle of Chicks</a>! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is normally $25, (plus shipping costs,) so this is a big savings!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://undercovermama.com/slide/Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://undercovermama.com/slide/Final.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.themodestmomblog.com/">Modest Mom</a> alerted me to this deal on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Modest-Mom/299157227948">Facebook page</a>...thanks so much, Caroline!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://undercovermama.com/includes/templates/undercovermama/layout/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://undercovermama.com/includes/templates/undercovermama/layout/logo.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/01/undercover-mama-review-giveaway-211.html">reviewed the Undercover Mama nursing shirt</a> back in February, and since then, I have been using it even more, because of the splint I have to wear for my diastasis recti, (I'm using the same program as Amy at <a href="http://www.raisingarrows.net/diastasis-recti-from-a-moms-perspective">Raising Arrows</a>.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You basically <i>have</i> to wear an undershirt under the splint, which makes nursing difficult, since you obviously can't pull up the shirt from the bottom with the splint holding it down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now that I'm using it so much more often, having only a black one was becoming wearisome. ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just ordered a white one with <a href="http://www.gaggleofchicks.com/r/jc21525">this deal</a>, so now I have one to wear with all my summer wardrobe!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-6639718068523821372011-07-08T08:50:00.000-07:002011-07-08T08:50:57.533-07:00WINNER! Sew is Your Baby Cloth Diaper<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TG1aKavs-KI/AAAAAAAAAEI/oK_w1IhdFDM/s1600/winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TG1aKavs-KI/AAAAAAAAAEI/oK_w1IhdFDM/s320/winner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/sew-is-your-baby-cloth-diaper-review.html">Sew is Your Baby cloth diaper giveaway</a> ended with 901 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #590.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Entry # 590 is...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tiffany Uchida!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sewisyourbaby.com/"><img border="0" src="http://sewisyourface.com/imagebin/125buttonsiyb.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Congratulations, Tiffany! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond before a new winner must be chosen.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">If you didn't win, wipe your tears and enter the giveaway for <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/t-ashley-candle-co-tart-warmer-review.html">T.Ashley Candle Co. Tart Warmer & Soy Melts</a> (7/13) and the giveaway for a <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/07/leading-lady-nursing-wear-review.html">$30 Gift Certificate to Leading Lady Nursing Wear!</a> (Ends 7/15)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Watch for exciting <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/p/giveaways-winners.html">new giveaways</a> coming soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-22311814146086302412011-07-06T08:45:00.000-07:002011-07-06T08:45:50.314-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Great-Great-Uncle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Great-Uncle Gus has always been a big tease...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_d1j6nOJHc/ThNfzAMbP9I/AAAAAAAAD5M/PIhjaejDvEI/s640/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_d1j6nOJHc/ThNfzAMbP9I/AAAAAAAAD5M/PIhjaejDvEI/s320/42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I remember being teased by him (and all the other great-uncles when they were still with us!) every single time we got together! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At 90-years-old, he still couldn't resist all the sweet little girl cousins running around at our<a href="http://fashionandmodesty.blogspot.com/2011/07/own-night.html"> family reunion</a> on Independence Day!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FgV3nc7yKGA/ThNflOLzSWI/AAAAAAAAD5E/Z9mGsamrEGM/s640/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FgV3nc7yKGA/ThNflOLzSWI/AAAAAAAAD5E/Z9mGsamrEGM/s400/40.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-34946163612028885932011-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:002011-07-02T07:00:03.971-07:00WINNER! Victorian Rose Soap Co. Gift Card<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TG1aKavs-KI/AAAAAAAAAEI/oK_w1IhdFDM/s1600/winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2LpLjVgeQnU/TG1aKavs-KI/AAAAAAAAAEI/oK_w1IhdFDM/s320/winner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">The <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/victorian-rose-soap-co-review-giveaway.html">Victorian Rose Soap Co. giveaway</a> ended with 327 valid entries, and the random number generator picked #180.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Entry # 296 is...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jennifer Kaylor!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8W89Yzid6JU/TcBKsoQ30FI/AAAAAAAAABs/NcBWjH2UQbU/s320/banner+full+size.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8W89Yzid6JU/TcBKsoQ30FI/AAAAAAAAABs/NcBWjH2UQbU/s320/banner+full+size.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Congratulations, Jennifer! You're a lucky gal! ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Winner has responded and been confirmed</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">If you didn't win, wipe your tears and enter the <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/sew-is-your-baby-cloth-diaper-review.html">Sew is Your Baby cloth diaper giveaway!</a> (Ends 7/6) and</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/t-ashley-candle-co-tart-warmer-review.html">T.Ashley Candle Co. Tart Warmer & Soy Melts</a> (7/13)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Watch for exciting <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/p/giveaways-winners.html">new giveaways</a> coming soon!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7681166866281629337.post-44162148692836155672011-07-01T11:00:00.000-07:002011-07-01T15:08:30.834-07:00Breakfast Smoothies - Fun with Food Friday<center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://ftmommyferg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Mama Chocolate"><img alt="Mama Chocolate" src="http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l490/Johanna_Conser/FunwithFoodFridayButtonOption1.jpg" /></a> </span><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Welcome to this week's <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/fun-with-food-friday-coming-soon.html">Fun with Food Friday</a>! </span></center><center><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">(ALERT: Read to the bottom for extra bonus entries opportunity!)</span></i></center><center><i><br />
</i></center><center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Check to see what Michelle at <a href="http://ftmommyferg.blogspot.com/">The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a <strike>First</strike> Second Time Mom</a> has cooked up this week</span>!</center></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br />
</i></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Please check my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/p/recipe-archives.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">archives</span></a> for more delicious recipes!</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center>This breakfast smoothie recipe comes from reader Shannon!</center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l6zQl_JmN_Y/Tg444GnxLGI/AAAAAAAAA7M/flvFjFq58og/s1600/2011+June+281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l6zQl_JmN_Y/Tg444GnxLGI/AAAAAAAAA7M/flvFjFq58og/s320/2011+June+281.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><ul style="border-collapse: collapse;"><li style="text-align: left;">orange juice (Shannon says she uses Tropicana. I only had Minute Maid concentrate, so that's what I used)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">frozen bananas</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">spinach</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">BarleyMax (a supplement from <a href="http://ecommerce.hacres.com/BarleyMax-Large-8-5-oz">Hallelujah Acres</a>)</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoqfoNLwlaI/Tg45ZlD3u3I/AAAAAAAAA7U/nwnoRmfeKcQ/s1600/2011+June+284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SoqfoNLwlaI/Tg45ZlD3u3I/AAAAAAAAA7U/nwnoRmfeKcQ/s320/2011+June+284.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Directions from Shannon:</i></span></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Basically you just blend it all together! The amounts depend on how many you are feeding. We usually use around 3 frozen bananas and half a bag of spinach. You don't need the BarleyMax, it just makes it extra nutritious.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6hcRtMSrZc/Tg45IWcqgoI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/RCPSXLRIaho/s1600/2011+June+288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p6hcRtMSrZc/Tg45IWcqgoI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/RCPSXLRIaho/s320/2011+June+288.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't have any <a href="http://ecommerce.hacres.com/BarleyMax-Large-8-5-oz">BarleyMax</a>, but I looked it up online and it looks like something I may want to get!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All the smoothies I have ever made include dairy products, so we've been avoiding them lately with the <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/06/escape.html">post-vacation</a> cold we all have, so this recipe was extremely welcome this week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie loved this smoothie and drank more of it than any other smoothie I've made her, so it definitely has kid-approval!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Despite its green color, which may be disturbing to some, (my sister wasn't too sure!) you can not taste the spinach at all and it didn't add any strange texture!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What a great way to get more vegetables into your kids!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I love making, (and eating!) smoothies for breakfast, and here are some more ideas to mix and match to spice it up!<br />
<br />
<ul><li style="text-align: left;"><b>yogurt</b> (I prefer using Greek yogurt for its higher protein)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>milk</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>fruit and/or vegetable juices</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>eggs</b> (preferably farm-fresh and/or organic since you'll be <a href="http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/content.asp?id=268">eating them raw</a>)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>frozen/fresh fruit of all kinds </b>(strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, peaches, bananas, cherries, pineapple, avocado, and more!)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>veggies</b> <b>of all kinds</b> (raw spinach, steamed broccoli, and dozens more! Google "green smoothie" for more ideas!)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>ground flax seed</b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>coconut oil </b>(see my <a href="http://childrenchoresandchocolate.blogspot.com/2011/02/tropical-traditions-coconut-oil-review.html">review of Tropical Traditions' coconut oil</a>)</li>
</ul><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Please comment if you have ideas and recipes for smoothies that you love!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div></span></center><center><center style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></div></center></center></center><center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">**********************</span></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We'll be doing this again next Friday, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">we need your recipes!</span></span></center></center><br />
<div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To encourage ya'll to produce your tasty gems, I'm offering <b>10 extra entries into any ONE giveaway of your choice for each recipe you submit</b>, (you can send me as many as you like!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Just send the recipe(s) to <a href="mailto:mamachocolateblog@gmail.com">mamachocolateblog@gmail.com</a> and add the 10 entries into the appropriate box on the giveaway entry form.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you have a blog post about a favorite recipe, I'd love it if you'd comment with a link to it!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
</div>Mama Chocolatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07305938028044533437noreply@blogger.com3