Apparently there is a voluntary recall on Nautilus produced Bowflex Ultimate 2 Home Gym due to an issue locking the seat up in storage. They have 18 reports of injury because of it.
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WFMW: Making the Most of Your Oven
So we collect all these great recipes but never make them because it takes for ever to cook them. Well the best invest I have made in my kitchen (short of my stand mixer) are 3/4 sheet pans with coordinating nonstick liners. Now that is the size that will just fit into my ovens. Full sheet pans were just about 1/2 inch to big.
Getting the biggest pans for your ovens is a blessing. I can cook a whole batch of chocolate cookies (30+) in 12 minutes. I also can make large batches of chocolate almond popcorn around the holidays. This just makes a better use of my time.
Then getting the matching liners saves even more time. Of course they are great because nothing sticks but it also cuts down on the washing. When I make cookies I don’t have to wash the sheet pans just the liners.
I will warn you that I couldn’t find these in a kitchen store (like LinensNThings, William Sonoma, etc) so I just went to a Restaurant Supply store. They aren’t fancy, just the rolled aluminum. Before you fret about them not being the AirBake, stoneware, etc remember this is what the professionals use.
So that is my tip for this week. Go cook and enjoy!
WFMW: Kids and Laundry
(This is a republish because this week’s Work For Me Wednesday is an oldie but goodie call)
Moms, let me break the news to you…You don’t have to do all the laundry but you do have to invest some time in training and let go of the details. Let us first start with the dirty clothes. By the time they are a year and a half my kids are responsible to put their own dirty clothes in the hamper (and yes I remind them;). Then by 5 they can sort their clothes into color piles (I do mine just because of the gentle issue). I do a cursory look until about 6. Now I don’t really check the NerdBug sorting unless I knew there was some iffy things. They are also always welcome to ask me if they are unsure which pile they go into. Then we go onto the washing and drying. When we moved into our new house we got the new front loading washer and dryer. This is great for kids. Both the 4 and 6 year old can easily put clothes in the washer and move them to the dryer. The 6 year old can even start the loads. Then I have the kids dump all the clean clothes into a basket and move them to the loft (where I want them to be). Now my kids do all this while I am nearby usually changing a baby or something like that (my laundry room is upstairs).
Then I invested in those pop up baskets for laundry that they sell with all the “stock up you dorm” stuff for $5, one for each kids. The ones I got at JoAnns have handles, are colored (one for each kid) and have sections you can velcro up or just leave as on big long basket. I sort all the laundry and put the appropriate foldables for each kid. For the 4 year old I give her wash cloths, spit cloths and her socks. The 6 year old gets all of his clothes at this point. Now, not everything is absolutely folded perfectly but it will be ok. My rule is, as long as it all fits in your drawers it is ok. I have gone through and shown them the correct way to fold, had them show me they can and let it go. Remember, you don’t have to look at it or do it so don’t complain.
Now I can’t wait until they can iron;).
WFMW: Cookie Scoop
One of the best time saving gadgets I own is the Pampered Chef Medium Scoop. It was the best $15.50 (price with shipping) I ever spent. It give perfectly sized cookies, which are a commodity around here. My hands also stay clean so I can stop and run after the kids. It is dishwasher safe and easy action. Just dip and dish. I also use for potato pancakes.
Even cooler is the little one they sell is the same size as a mini-muffin cup and the big one is a muffin cup size. I spend forever trying to get them just right.
Carnival of Homeschooling: NerdHouse
Welcome to the NerdHouse. Why don’t you come on in and see the Carnival of Homeschooling we have set up? Lot’s of people are already here with all kinds of great entries.
As we go in take a look at the family bulletin board. Kim at Kim’s Play Place has is announcing Science and Technology Education Blog Carnival. I also have Home Spun Strip (#325) from Home Spun Homeschooling. They are always so cute and refreshing.
Let’s take a seat in the living room for a moment to talk about the challenges and joys we face as homeschoolers. There isn’t anything like a little community support. Erin at Delighting in His Richness shares I thought I could, I thought I could! She shares how to overcome the afternoon slump with kids. Summer over at Wired For Noise shares the 5 Books That Influenced Me to Homeschool. Susan over at The Expanding Life talks about our ever changing roles as parents and teachers in Serving Punch. Renae at Life Nurturing Education shares a glimpse in Like Mother, Like Daughter. The Crazy Mom over at The Crazy House share a humorous and encouraging look with Testing, Testing, 1-2-3. Timothy at Sometimes I’m Actually Coherent gives us How Times Have Changed. While reading one of the lessons from a McGuffey Reader prompts some thought on the question: What is childhood for? Why Homeschool talks about One of the great things about homeschooling – vacations. Beverly’s Homeschooling Blog (About.com)
has a forum member who wants to know How do you keep your sanity?
Let’s go join that group over by the bookshelf. They are sharing some of their learning experiences. Tammy over at Adventures on Beck’s Bounty share about her nature study with A Bird Highway? Christine over at Our Curious Home tells us about the First Day of this Late Winter Co-op. Dolfin at Lionden Landing shares her groups initial plans in building their Sunflower House. Dana at Principled Discovery tells us about What My Daughter Learned Through Blogging. Sue over at Homeschooling High School tells us why we should Teach Your Teens Real Life Money Skills. Two Kid Schoolhouse tells us why she reads aloud to her reading children in Reading Up. ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother talks about homeschool lesson task lists in Assignment List Time I Guess. Learned Genius tells us Why You Should Read the Classics: A Bibliophile’s Diatribe. Jenny at Home is Where You Start From shares Our First Week with Sonlight’s Language Arts.
They group over by the desks are giving each other some resources. Lynn over at Eclectic Education shared Our Lapbooks. We here at the NerdFamily need to get started lapbooking too. HEM Takes A Closer Look gives us a great piece on Hands On Learning. Tracey at Glue on her fingers, dirt on her toes, she makes laughter wherever she goes has a great unit study with Spring Forward, Fall Back. Living By Learning shares some great online resources and tips on Looking at Chinese Paintings with Kids. Shannon at Song of My Heart has a great Colonial Days and The American Revolution unit. HomeschoolBuzz.com Reviews shares their review of Artistic Pursuits Jr. High book one: The Elements of Art and composition. Let’s Play Math shares a great Math Warm-Up: Today is February 4 x 3 x 2 x 1. Petticoat Government has a Cuisenaire Rod Suggestion.
Not all lessons have a spot on a report card. Both the joy and burden of being a homeschooling parent is that we are also tasked with the subjects in life. Jennifer at Cage Free Monkeys dealing with a lesson on sorrowing due to pet loss in Breaking Hearts. The Reluctant Homeschooler helps her daughter through friendship issues in I’m Busy Right Now. Becca at Inspiration for Mothers tells us What to tell your kids about suffering and injustice in the world. Dana at A Very Nearly Tea gives us a glimpse at Teaching Understanding.
Over at the kitchen table they are talking a little politics. Brian over at New Hampshire Rocks! tell us about an Attempt to Undermine Home Education in New Hampshire. Alasandra over at Alasandra’s Homeschool Blog gives us Why Carol Moore Chose Not to Homeschool that invalidates her argument. Barbara Frank Online asks if Our Parental Rights in Jeopardy? Life Without School Community Blog talks about The Myth of Credentialism.
That brings us to the end of this week’s Carnival of Homeschooling. Please submit your entries for next week’s carnival that will be hosted over at Life Nuturing Education. Thanks again for joining me! So go read and comment!
My Vote is…
Since we the people apparently own 80% of AIG I vote we don’t dump another $30 million into it. Fire all the people running it and what ever we do, don’t let someone who works for the federal government run it either. Ugh!
Meal Plan Monday
Here is the plan for this week!
Monday: Fish, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli
Tuesday: Chicken Kiev, Pasta and Asparagus
Wednesday: Chicken, Rice and Broccoli
Thursday: Hamburger Helper for Dad and the kids: NerdMom is going to Campaigna
Friday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine
Hell’s Kitchen 2/26
I wonder how long Seth is going to make it because that team hates him. Also how did Colleen and Lacey even get on the show?
So Ramsay walks in and asks each team who the best are. Some of them are surprised when a couple say that they are. Why? If you have ever seen Ramsay, he only wants the people who think that they are the best.
Their challenge is to open for breakfast in 30 minutes. They are serving a bunch of kids. Each kitchen serves 50 kids and the first to serve them all wins. The red was serving the cheerleaders and the blue was serving the football players.
Colleen got into the cheerleading spirit by cheering instead of cooking. Koi said she would take pancakes because she isn’t good at breakfast. Pancakes??? That is something you want someone who is experienced to do. Seth seemed to have a hard time keeping up with the scrambled eggs. The girls finally won one!!! This puts an even bigger target on Seth’s back. The guys got to clean the dining room and both kitchens. Then they had to prep both kitchens for service that night. The girls get a day of pampering poolside. Before punishment the boys went back to the dorm and started fighting. Yea, that’ll help.
Then we get to service. The prep wasn’t finished when the girls got there. So when the orders came in the guys didn’t have the water seasoned or boiling for the appetizers. Now on the girls side, Koi tried to get ahead by dropping food early. Then the guys never got the girls’ sauced prepped so they had to wait. Andrea took control of the red kitchen and things started going out. It took the guys 2 attempts to get the red kitchen’s sauce done (Ben ruined the first one and Danny re-did it). Then the blue kitchen sent out salad with the butt of the lettuce (I call it the core;). Then Ben messed up the lamb. Colleen and LA are not getting along on the meat station. Danny had issues with the garnish and that was after he said he was the best. Nothing was really going well and Ramsay ended up losing it. There was no winner and both teams must nominate 2 people for nomination.
The guys nominated Seth and Ben. Lacey said the girls named Colleen and Lacey. So Ramsay asked her if there was anyone worse that night and she said Koi. Ramsay said that Ben rushed around to much but he was staying. In the end he sent Seth home. Then Ramsay moved Lacey over to the men’s team and they don’t seem happy.
This is going to start getting interesting!
Top Chef Finale Part 2 Recap!!!!
So here we are to find out who is going to win Top Chef. I am rooting for Carla but Stefan has a really good shot.
On a separate Top Chef note. I was watching this week’s Iron Chef America and Arianne was on as a sous chef.
So they start out having breakfast on the Creole Queen paddleboat. Then they go meet Padma and Tom at the New Orleans Collection. The challenge is to create a 3 course tasting menu. It is going to be served head to head and they don’t have to do dessert. They have 2 hours of prep the first day and then 3 hours to cook day of. They brought in Richard, Casey and Marcel from the previous seasons to serve as sous chefs. They had to pull knives to choose sous chefs. Carla got to pull the first knife because she won the last challenge. I would have thought she would have gotten to choose first. Hosea got Richard, Stefan got Marcel, and Carla got Casey.
Then Stefan and Hosea were fighting over foigras. Casey suggests that Carla suvee the sirloin, which she has never done before. Hosea realizes that Casey is throwing in her influence. But I notice he didn’t bother asking Richard for any suggestions.
So day of they find Tom at the restuarant they are cooking at. He is standing in front of an aligator. I am calling a new course. They have to make and appetizer for a tray pass. They will use alligator, crab or red fish. They will use the King Cake to choose. It is a cake that has a prize in it and who ever the prize gets to choose everyone’s protein. Hosea got it. He chose red fish for himself, gave Carla the crab and gave Stefan the alligator.
Stefan is making an alligator soup to pass? What? Now Carla is doing a soup but it is a bite in a Asian spoon. Maybe Stefan is doing the same basic thing. Hosea is not making a dessert because he isn’t good at it and doesn’t want it to be the last thing he serves. Stefan is freezing the fish so he can slice it thin. Marcel doesn’t like that idea but I don’t think he said anything. I think Carla shouldn’t let Casey talk her out of the tart and into the souffle. Carla and pastry are good. Carla ruined the souffle because she forgot to turn the oven down. I thnk that is the end for Carla.
Hosea: Trio of Sashimi, Scallops & Foie Gras with Pain Perdu, Venison with Wild Mushrooms
Carla: Seared Snapper with Saffron Aioli & Crouton, Sous-vide New York Strip Steak with Potato Rod w/Merlot Sauce, Cheese Tart with Apple Coins & Marmalade
Stefan: Halibut & Salmon Carpaccio, Squab with Braised Red Cabbage & Schnupfnudeln, Ice Cream & Chocolate Mousse with Vanilla Syrup & Lollipops
Serving and Judging:
John Besh is one of the guests!!! Fabio is also a guest. Hosea’s passed app seemed to go over well. Stefan served his alligator soup in a little mug. Both Stefan and Carla’s dishes seemed to go well. Then we go onto the plated food. Carla’s fish went well. Hosea’s didn’t do well. He didn’t add enough salt. Stefan turned his fish a bit watery because he froze it. They also thought Stefan’s was a bit bland. Then onto 2nd course. Carla’s steak didn’t go well. Stefan’s went really well. Gail loved Hosea’s dish. Someone thought Stefan’s dessert was the best. Gail thought it was outdated and Tom thought it was eh. Fabio thought that Hosea closed the meal better. Someone else thought that Hosea should have finished with a dessert and that he took the safe way out. Between the steak and dessert, I am pretty sure Carla is out. Since Stefan’s dessert didn’t impress Gail or Tom, I am afraid that Hosea is goign to win this one.
Now onto Judging Table. Tobey thought that Carla’s meat wasn’t her and wasn’t that good. Tom said she let Casey talk out of her out of making the food that got her to the finale. Tobey said that Hosea didn’t add enough citrus to his sashimi. They all liked his 2nd course. They all liked the venison but seemed to be dissapointed about dessert. They thought that Stefan’s fish was watery and bland. They all liked his squab and thought it was the best of the night. When they asked why they should be top chef, Carla cried a little and said when she makes her food she is a top chef. Stefan also started crying for Carla. As soon as deliberation started they said that Carla was out. That just makes me sad, my heart hurts for her. They all think that Stefan’s dessert was pedestrian. Hosea’s procession was good. Tobey really was hung up of the fact that Hosea’s meal didn’t have an ending. They thought that Stefan’s missed soul though he had precision. Tobey said that if you are giving it for soul, give it to Carla. I second that. I feel Carla is the Top Chef here!!!!! But unfortunately Hosea won:(.
I don’t think that Stefan wouldn’t be the easiest to get a long with but he is consistantly good. Sometimes you can afford a huge ego because you really are that good. Hosea, I think, sucks. As both a person and a chef. Carla has the most heart but wasn’t consistent and I believe in constistancy. I think in all fairness Stefan should have won not Hosea at all!!!
I will see you all next week for a little reunion snark!
EyeBuyDirect Review and Giveaway!
I am a cynic. Usually when a deal sounds to good to be true it usually is. That is why I was so curious about EyeBuyDirect but I am so happy that these great deals really are true!!! Now we have pretty decent vision insurance so it was going to take quite a deal to make us not use it. Now NerdDad needed some new glasses so I got his prescription (must have to order) and sat down to look around. I found these great frames called Saint that were $24.95. This was the frame and a single vision lens. That is a huge steal!!! We always get a thinner lens with a scratch coat so I started looking at the options. I was pleasantly surprised to see that is came with a scratch coat for free. Then we selected the super thin lens that was only $42 more. Insurance never covers that upgrade and you never get it that cheap. We also added the Anti-Reflective and UV coatings. Our grand total, counting shipping, was a mere $83.80. Even with insurance we have never gotten out so cheap! We have never gotten away with less than $100 when we were also using insurance. Now it did take a while to get the glasses but it wasn’t too long.
We received them in a nice hard case with a cloth to dry them with. I was so happy with quality. I am sold! We will be using EyeBuyDirect from now on for all our eye glasses. For once something is really as good as it sounds!
(Non-Prescription glasses- Every frame can be fitted with a blank lens. All that needs to be done is select “Fashion” under the “I use my glasses for” on the prescription page.)
Win it!
So how would you like to win your own pair of glasses from EyeBuyDirect?
To enter:
* Go to EyeBuyDirect’s website and tell me what frame you think you will like the most (you are not committed).
* For a second entry, they could upload their photo and try on glasses (you just have to try this!) or review someone in the “Wall of Frame”.
* A random winner will be selected and notified on March 11th.
* The winner will then have 3 days to claim their prize.
To earn extra entries, you may do one or all of the following. Each one counts as an extra ticket but you must leave a separate comment for each one.
* Subscribe to my feed.
* Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to EyeBuyDirect.
This giveaway is open to addresses within the US. Please leave a way to contact you in case you win.
(This is a Family Review Network review)