All posts by NerdMom

Food

Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast

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Got your attention didn’t I;)? So 24 hours before Thanksgiving dinner we had kids with fevers so there was no going to the Mother in Law’s for Thanksgiving dinner. So I pulled a turkey breast out of the freezer and did a quick thaw. So I mixed butter, Pappy’s seasoning and parsley together in a bowl. Then I put it in between the skin and the meat. Then I just covered it in bacon. Where could I go wrong;)?

I then covered it and put it in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes a pound. I then uncovered it for the last 45 minutes of cooking and the bacon finished cooking. It smelled so good!!! And it was super moist!!!! So, so good!!!

Free, tech, Tech Tuesday

Tech Tuesday: Favorite Browser

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First off let me admit that I really, really like Google;). I like their products, I like how they treat their engineers (from what I hear), I like Google products.

I, like many people, ran from the Internet Explorer browser as soon as a viable option was available. I have run Netscape (yes I am old) but that didn’t really compete with Internet Explorer in ability so I really consider Firefox the first real post IE browser. And I liked Firefox. It had great extensions, didn’t lock up as much as IR but, there is always a but, it is a memory hog.

Then came along Chrome. It ran faster and more efficiently that Firefox so I tentatively started using it. Then I found it cloud capabilities. I can sync my bookmarks and access them from any computer. So I don’t need to worry about losing them no matter where I am working. They have a bunch of cool extensions that you can use to make bookmarking, blogging, etc easier. We aren’t even talking about how well gmail works with it (and the awesomeness that is all the gmail capabilities). The one drawback is that the coupon sites still haven’t updated all their coupon printing software to work with Chrome. But I am sure that will come and come soon!

Well now there is a Chrome App store!!! This includes both paid and free apps, extensions and themes. I am so stoked! There are games, VNC utilities, I mean all kinds of cool stuff. It just came out yesterday and I can’t wait to get my little fingers into all the fun!!!

Homeschoooling

Evaluation

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I was chatting with someone at the doctor’s office a few weeks ago so of course the subject of kids came up. She said how many kids she had and I said about mine. Then she asked where my kids go to school. I simply replied, “They are homeschooled. Where do your kids go?” like it was a totally normal school and lets move on. So she told me where her kids went and came right back to the homeschooling;).

I got the “Wow, you homeschool? That is great. I mean I couldn’t do it, but its great.” which I always find mildly annoying. I mean, I didn’t ask you opinion but stated a fact. But overall it isn’t a big deal and I do like talking about homeschooling to the uninformed;). So she asked all her questions about how much school they do and if I am qualified to teach them. Then she asked about their testing.

Now I don’t really test my kids. I may drill them every once in a while but there really isn’t any testing or grading going on. I know some homeschoolers do but at this point I don’t really feel the need. I correct their homework and make them fix their mistakes. We dialog about books, history and science concepts. Over all I feel that I have a firm grasp on where they are at, their strengths and their shortfalls.

So as I explain to the nice lady, she of course has questions. “So how will they ever learn to perform on the spot when they have to be tested?” And it hit me! My kids do get quizzed and tested. By who? All those well meaning people out there who like to quiz them for me;). You know who you are. The person who asks me if my kids are learning math, then thinks it is cute to turns to the kids and starts doing math drills with them. The well meaning at church who decides it is their job to quiz them on what ever they are studying. Or the random person who starts pointing to words for the kids to read right after I say my 5 year old is reading. Because obviously I am unclear as to what the word reading meant.

So thank you people, both strangers and friends. I now realize that my kids are being quizzed, tested, graded and evaluated constantly. Just not by me. But no fear! They are passing with flying colors;)!

Food

The Start of an Adventure

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For those of you who don’t read my twitter (and why don’t you?), I am in Colorado right now as a blogger correspondent for the Red Robin Kids Cook-Off. They asked me to come as a Fresno blogger because one of the finalists is from Fresno! I got the opportunity to meet Malia and her parents in our travels to Colorado.

She is just adorable! She is a sweet 7 year old girl who has already lived quite the worldly life! She was born in Germany while her father was stationed there and she also got the opportunity to live in Japan during her kindergarten year. I look forward to seeing her make her burger (and getting to try it;).

And Red Robin…. They have been awesome! They have me set up in a gorgeous hotel and later I will upload the gift pack that was waiting for me;).

Post more later!

Food

Ziploc Review

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Who doesn’t love Ziploc products? We use the bags and containers for everything! I have always used the bags for storing various meal components in the freezer. Then all the containers…NerdDad uses them to take lunch to work. I use them to freeze soups, refried beans and stocks. But now that I have tried the Twist ‘n Loc containers I won’t be afraid to take soups and sauces with me to potlucks! Now I am getting a better seal so there is even less of a chance of freezer burn. I really love them!

Ziploc is running an awesome contest right now! Ziploc has teamed up with TerraCycle to have the Make a Difference Mom Contest going right now.

Do you know a Mom who is making a difference in her community one day at a time?

Is this Mom in charge of organizing the recycling center, or volunteering to help plant trees around town? Is she always carpooling the kids and making sure to keep the energy use down around the house?

To celebrate the resourceful, hard working moms that give back to their community (it might be you!) and are mindful of the environment, Ziploc Brand and TerraCycle, the manufacturers of eco-friendly products from waste materials, are searching nationwide for that special “Make-A-Difference-Mom.” We’d like your help in discovering the mom who outsmarts waste in everything she does. Perhaps one of your readers knows someone that fits the profile exactly? Or perhaps you are the “Make-A-Difference-Mom?”

So do you know (or are a ) Make a Difference Mom? If so go enter now because they have prizes going all the way up to $1500! You only have a few more days!

(This post was written for Family Review Network & SC Johnson who provided the complimentary product for review & giveaway in exchange for my honest opinions.)

Food

Meal Plan Monday 12/6

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Ahh, these last couple of weeks have been super crazy!!! Between my dad dying, the kids all getting sick for Thanksgiving, my dad’s funeral… life and meals have been nuts. And this week I am out the next 2 evenings and then off to Denver to go to Red Robin’s Kids Cook Off! So I am going to try and regain a little control over life with some meal planning;).

Monday: Spaghetti, Broccoli
Tuesday: Quesadillas, Broccoli
Wednesday: Fast food
Thursday: Rice with Shredded Pork and Broccoli
Friday: Latkes, Scrambled Eggs w/Spinach

FRN, gift worthy, Holidays

My Family Christmas Book and Memories Review

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I love Christmas but not really the commercial side. I feel we need to focus more on Christ and also on family traditions. So I was thrilled to receive a copy of My Family Christmas Book and Memories to review!

This is the ultimate Christmas book to have on hand. It is a 3 ring binder and has convenient tabs for easy access. The sections include Advent, Christmas Reading & Prayers, Kids Craft Ideas and more. They give you the years that carols were written and all the words we can’t always remember;). There are places to help you plan out your Christmas and write in the details of what happened for prosperity!

I love this book because it helps to focus on what is really important about Christmas! Christ! I think this will end up being the book we pull out and read from every year as a family.

(This post was written for Family Review Network & My Family Christmas Book who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest review)