Bug Repellent Band

This is fabulous!

A bug bracelet scientifically tested and proven to repel mosquitoes and other flying, biting insects. Bug Bam products use a 100% natural, food-grade formula and materials.

All repelling products are non-toxic, waterproof, sweat-proof and tested to repel for up to 100 hours.

Each product comes in it’s own specially designed vapor-barrier bag to extend the life of the product. Use one of our products for 4 hours? Just place it back in the re-sealable bag, seal tightly, and when you take it out again, you’ll have up to 96 hours of repellency left.

No liquids, No DEET

Suitable for both adults and kids, one-Size fits all wristbands measure: 250mm (9.8 inches) long x 12mm (0.47 inches) wide and are adjustable to 178mm (7 inches) long.

Sold through the BugBam website, for $3.95

Ricotta Pancakes....Fluffy and Velvety!

I woke up with a taste for pancakes... fluffy, velvety ricotta pancakes! I've just tested this recipe, and it is beyond wonderful! Especially when you add blueberries or dark chocolate chips.


Ricotta Pancakes

Servings: 4 pancakes

• 1 cup ricotta
• 1 cup plain yogurt 
• 3 eggs
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• Butter or grapeseed or other neutral oil as needed.

Beat together the ricotta, yogurt and egg yolks. Combine baking soda, flour, salt, sugar and eggs.  
Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat while you finish batter. Stir flour mixture into cheese mixture, blending well but not beating. Stir in lemon juice and zest.
Add about 1 tablespoon butter or oil to griddle or skillet and coat surface. When it is hot, add batter. Cook until lightly browned on bottom, 3 to 5 minutes, then turn and cook second side. Serve immediately with maple syrup (and have some blueberries, peanut butter or dark chocolate chips on top!).

Yet Another Reason to Read Your Labels!

Check out this insane list of ingredients in top brand products, largely distributed as healthy. Gotta read your labels, people!!

 

Yoplait Original 99% Fat Free (various fruit flavors)

Yogurt is another should-be healthy snack that has been hijacked by the food industry. Many yogurts are made to be low- or non-fat but are loaded with added sugar and other ingredients that are completely superfluous.

 

Whereas a product like Fage 0% is made of only “Grade A Pasteurized Skimmed Milk, and Live Active Yogurt Cultures,” Yoplait Original includes sugar, modified corn starch,high fructose corn syrup, kosher gelatin, and tricalcium phosphate — yet no live and active cultures, which is one of the main reasons to be eating yogurt in the first place!

 

Serving Size: 1 container (170 grams)
Calories: 170
Total fat: 1.5 grams
Saturated fat: 1 gram
Sodium: 85 milligrams
Sugars: 26 grams

Mott's Original Apple Sauce

This applesauce might just as well be called "high fructose corn syrup sauce," given that HFCS is the second ingredient after apples. Why do that to perfectly good apples? Apples aren't sweet enough?
 

Serving size: 1/2 cup (128g)
Calories: 110
Total fat: 0
Sugars: 25 grams

 

Instead, opt for the Mott's Natural Apple Sauce (No Sugar Added) version, which has only 50 calories and 12 grams of sugar.

Shocking....

Source: Mother Nature Network

RECALL ALERT: Ground Beef with Salmonella

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2012 - Cargill Meat Solutions, a Wyalusing, Pa., establishment, is recalling 29,339 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall, sold wholesale and for further processing:

• 14 pound chub packages of "Grnd Beef Fine 85/15", packed 3 chubs to approximate 42-pound cases.

The products subject to recall bears the establishment number "EST. 9400" inside the USDA mark of inspection. While the use-by date has passed and these products are no longer available for retail sale, FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen in consumers' freezers. These products were produced on May 25, 2012, and were shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut, Maine and New York for further distribution. t is important to note that the above listed products were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names.


For more information, please click here

Fabulous Homemade Stick Deodorant

I've learned about this homemade stick deodorant, it's fabulous. Workout proof! You've gotta try it!! Thank you Little House in the Suburbs for posting this:

1. Put 1/4 cup each of baking soda and cornstarch** in a bowl with 10+ drops tea tree oil. (I didn't put any scent on mine, and it's great!)

2. This deodorant can be used as a powder, but if you want a stick, go to the shortening section of the store and buy coconut oil.

3. Stir 2+ TBSP in until it’s the consistency you like.

4. Smash into empty deodorant container. (Will be a bit sturdier once it sets a day or so.)

When applying this deodorant, use a lighter hand than you would with normal stick deodorant, especially the first couple of days or it’ll drop little balls on your bathroom rug.

Used correctly, this stuff is invisible and lasts for ages, as it works with a very light layer. You should not be able to see it once applied.

**If you have especially sensitive skin, increase the amount of cornstarch to 6T and decrease the baking soda to 2T.
One last note, keep it in the fridge during the summer.
Fabulous! Ten times better than any store bought version.

Source: littlehouseinthesuburbs.com

BPA Finally Banned in Bottles

Woohoo! Never too late!!!
"The FDA today banned bisphenol A from baby bottles and sippy cups,Dow Jones Newswires reports, but stopped short of heeding calls from environmentalists and health advocates to eliminate the controversial plastic additive altogether."


Many makers of bottles had already stopped using BPA, but at least now it is the law!


Source: WSJ.com

My Angel's Birthday

It's my lil' princess second birthday, and nothing like fun cupcakes for...... (check these ones out....gorgeous!)

....and balloons!!

Happy Birthday Princess!!

Source: dikakids

Baby Audio and Video Monitor Safety Alert

Please check this important baby monitor safety information issued by Mattel/Fisher Price


"The CPSC and JPMA and juvenile product manufacturers are working together to help remind parents and caregivers that cords on baby audio and video monitors present a strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers when placed within a child’s reach.

Since 2002, seven infants and toddlers were strangled in baby monitor cords, and three infants and toddlers nearly strangled. The victims involved were as young as 6 months old to 20 months old.

In an effort to prevent infants and young children from strangling in monitor cords, CPSC and JPMA and juvenile product manufacturers urge parents to:

Immediately check the location of all monitors and other products with electrical cords--including those mounted on the wall--to make sure cords are out of your child’s reach.

Place cords at least three feet away from any part of the crib, bassinet, play yard, or other safe sleep environment.

Never position a monitor inside or on the edge of a crib.

Remember, at least three feet away is where your monitor should stay.

Click here to request free strangulation warning labels about the strangulation risk to affix to the cords of your baby monitor. "

Source: Mattel/Fisher Price

Natural Bug Repellent

Bug season is definitely here, annoying (and biting) kids and adults! We came across a great natural bug repellent provided by experienced moms. Try it out!


This will make a 2oz bottle.
- 1oz witch hazel
- 1 oz distilled water
- 8 drops of citronella (essential oil)
- 8 drops of lemongrass (essential oil)
- 8 drops of rose geranium (essential oil)
- 4 drops of lavender (essential oil)
- 4 drops of tea tree (essential oil)
- 4 drops of peppermint (essential oil)


Mix all ingredients and spray as needed on clothing and surrounding areas.

Repurpose, Reuse

Plan City Beauty

Check out this City Station by Plan Toys. Gorgeous!

The three levels consist of an ample platform, revolving door that makes click-clacking sounds when pushed, 2 automatic check-in machines with a movable bar, a shop stand, staircase and 2 wooden doll figurines.
Designed to stimulate child’s imagination and creativity in the worlds of pretend-play and role-play.
The roof is constructed of EVA while the rest of the set are made of natural, chemical free recycled rubberwood and finished with non-toxic water based dye.


Click here to buy through Amazon

Larabar Recipe: Awesome!

I love Larabars. They are healthy, raw, vegan, gluten free, preservative free, and kosher. Great for any diet, and kids love them!
Larabars are very easy to make, and they can be quite expensive to buy! Check out this base recipe:

Larabars
Portions: about 6 bars


Ingredients:

• 1 cup nuts 
  
• Almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios, peanuts, hazelnuts, etc.
• 1 cup sweet dried fruit
• Dates, raisins, figs, prunes, etc. 
• 1 cup filling (optional)
• Dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried apricot, dried pineapple, cranberries, goji berries, more chopped nuts, dried coconut, chocolate chips, coffee beans, cacao nibs, shredded carrot, etc.  
• 2 - 4 tbsp flavoring (optional)
•  Cacao, vanilla, cinnamon, citrus zest and juice, ginger, mint, cloves, coconut oil.

In your food processor, mix together fruit and nuts until a sticky, workable dough is formed.  Add flavoring, and process well.  Add fillings, and pulse until combined - being careful not to wreck the texture.  Shape into six equal sized bars, and wrap in parchment paper or plastic wrap.  If you're in a hurry, you can shape the dough into eight to twelve balls, instead.  Lärabars should keep in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container for up to a month. 


If you want to try different flavors, try the Rawfied recipes


Source: Rawfied

RECALL ALERT: Dole Vegetables with Potential Listeria

Dole Fresh Vegetables has recalled 2,598 cases of bagged salads due to a possible risk from listeria, the Food and Drug Administration announced Sunday.

Dole Hearts of Romaine salads are being voluntarily recalled after one bag tested positive for listeria monocytogenes during a random check by the FDA.

The salads were distributed in nine states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Recalled bags have a product code of 0540N165112A or B, with Use-by date of June 26 and a UPC code of UPC 7143000956. Consumers can find the product code and Use-by date in the upper right-hand corner of the package. The UPC code is on the back of the package, below the barcode.

Anyone who has a bag of the recalled salad should throw it away, the FDA recommends. For more information, consumers can call the Dole Food Company Consumer Response Center at  1-800-356-3111 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.


Source: msnbc.com