Woolzies Giveaway {Summer Sweeping Giveaway Hop}

Summer is coming to a close, but it's still HOT, HOT, HOT outside.  Stay cool with your little ones before they head back to school and keep Summer Sweeping with this Giveaway Hop, hosted by the Blogging Mamas Network!

Each blogger linking up has a Giveaway for you worth at least $25, so be sure to hop around to them all! 

 

Image from www.woolzies.com

Just Me and the Boys is offering a 6-count package of  

Woolzies Dryer Balls!  (ARV $35)

Enter below using the Rafflecopter form below.

Must be 18 years or older.

Open to US residents.

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail before a new winner will be drawn.

According to Jenny, So Easy Being Green, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Summer Fluffing participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Home Made Chewy Granola Bars {Tasty Tuesday}

We don't often eat chewy granola bars but after the last time I bought them I thought I should look for a recipe. It wasn't until I was looking for a good treat to make for a family function that I actually made them. These were perfect! Everyone loved them, except Squirrel, whom for some reason is skeptical of treats I make (maybe he thought I hid veggies in them or something).

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of unsalted butter

1/4 cup of packed brown sugar

1/4 honey

1 1/2 cups plain granola

1 cup puffed rice cereal 

1/4 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup peanut butter chips

1/4 sweetened shredded coconut

1/4 cup raisins

(you can substitute the flavored chips, coconut or raisins for your favorite add ins. If you want to omit one or more of the additives without replacement adjust recipe by adding more granola.)

Tip: You can add all dry ingredients to have the chocolate and peanut butter melted in, or you could press the chocolate and peanut butter chips in at the end. I will describe the recipe with everything mixed, you'll see the outcome of both versions. I think it is easier to mix it together, plus I like the ingredients to be evenly distributed.

Step One:

Mix together granola, rice cereal, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, coconut and raisins in large mixing bowl. Then set aside.

.

Step Two:

In small sauce pan melt butter, honey and brown sugar. Boil, stirring constantly, until sugar crystals are melted, about 1-2 minutes.

Step Three:

Pour melted mixture over the top of dry ingredients and mix together.

Step Four: 

Using a spatula, press the ingredients into a wax paper lined (or sprayed) pan. You want the bars to be 1/2-34 inch thick. Depending on the size of pan you use, you may not fill the whole pan. I made two batches and didn't quite fill a 13X9 inch pan.

Left shows chips pressed in afterwards, right shows chips melted in.

Pressed in pan, 3/4 high, smooth edges.

Step Five:

Cool completely then cut. You can individually wrap in wax paper, or store in the pan.

These are a quick, easy, no-bake sweet treat. Enjoyed by everyone. But a little bit goes a long way, as they are super sweet.

Do you plan on making these? Will (or did) you make the recipe as is or will (or did) you alter it to your family's favorite likes? Please share.

The Many Faces of Bug {Wordless Wednesday}

Bug-A-Boo has multiple facial expressions.

These were all during breakfast this morning!

Roasted Potatoes {Tasty Tuesday}

This is a new family favorite. I have a made it a few times now and love it every time!

This is also a recipe that has enough leftovers for my husband to take to work the next day and for me to enjoy while the kids eat their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

What is also great about this recipe is that you can manipulate it any way you want. You can add different veggies, not use some, pick your own spices, your favorite sausage, all so that you and your family can enjoy it the way you like it.

The ingredients:

1- package of your favorite sausage. (We used Johnsonville with cheese)

2.5 lbs- red potatoes

2- bell peppers (any color)

1- small-medium size onion

3/4 jar- banana peppers

1 cup- your favorite cheese (we used mozzarella) 

2-3 Tbls- Olive Oil

Favorite seasonings (we used Lawry's, black pepper, paprika and parsley)

Step one: coarse chop your potatoes, peppers, onion and sausage. Toss into covered roasting pan.

Step two: Drizzle with olive oil and mix until ingredients are evenly coated. I love how colorful it is!

Step three: Add your seasonings. I don't measure, I just give the top a good coating of my favorites and sprinkle with black pepper. Then give it a good stir.

Top photo is seasoned pre-mixing, bottom photo is after mixing everything up.

Step four: Cover and put in oven at 400 degrees. Bake approximately 35 minutes or until a fork easily goes through the potatoes.

Step five: Remove from oven, stir everything again. Top with cheese, put cover back on for five minutes.

Step six: Serve and enjoy!

Make it vegetarian: Replace sausage with another favorite veggie or fruit (eggplant, zucchini).

Make it vegan: Same as vegetarian, but don't add cheese.

"You're okay."

With Squirrel being four, he is really picking up on the things we say. He recites phrases we commonly use with each other or with him and it is usually in context. Many times it makes us laugh. For example, while putting away his clean clothes I asked him to make sure the pajamas were going into the pajama drawer. He then said "What's the difference?".

The things he says to us makes me think about the phrases we use around our boys. Thankfully we don't swear or use 'colorful' words that would be inappropriate for a preschooler.

The other day he accidentally hit me in the head with a toy... it really hurt. He comes over and apologizes. After apologizing he gives me a hug and says "You're okay", then started rubbing my back. He then repeated "you're ok".  I sat there thinking, "No, I'm not okay, why are you telling me I'm okay?" But then I realized, that is what I say to him when he gets hurt or is upset about something.

All this time when he is in pain I have been saying "You're okay" thinking it would make him feel better.

I didn't like being told how I felt. Why should I be telling my child how he feels. He may not understand the situation, it may not bother him to be told "you're okay". Maybe it is comforting to him, but I can't bring myself to say it again.

Whenever the situation comes up now, I stop myself before uttering those words. I wasn't okay when he was telling me I was okay. I will not continue to tell him he is okay when I know he is in pain. I have been trying to say "you'll be okay" or "it'll be okay" instead.

What do you normally say to your child to console them when they are in pain? Are there phrases you have said to your children that they repeat to you which made you re-evaluate the words you use in a particular situation?

Crinkle Shirt (By Magnus Pater) Review

Disclosure: I received the product below to help facilitate my review. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

Image from magnuspater.com

 

Until I was contacted by Magnus Pater, I did not know this type of product existed! 

What a great gift idea for the dad, grandpa, or uncle to-be in your life.

Magnus Pater means "Great Father" in Latin. They are dedicated to families and understand the importance of children bonding with the male figures in their lives. Their Crinkle Shirt is meant to be a tool for dads (and other males in a child's life) to entertain and bond with their little ones.

While this shirt looks no different on the outside, than any other shirt in your closet, it truly is unique.

What you don't see... is what is hidden in the pockets.

The shirt doubles as a baby/toddler toy, engaging your little one's sense of sight, touch, and sound.
Those with small children know how much babies and toddlers love pockets and flaps. Your little one will get a pleasant surprise when they start to play with the pockets on this shirt. When baby lifts the flap of one pocket he will experience a bumpy texture. Then baby can play peek-a-boo as he lifts the flap of the other pocket and exposes the mirror. As baby is playing with the flaps he will also be engaging the crinkle sound. This small piece of crinkle (CPSIA compliant) behind the pocket is big enough for baby to have fun with, but not so big that you'll engage the crinkle sound while going on with everyday activities.

 

This shirt can be worn anywhere. It can be utilized while sitting at home or playing at the park!

While I haven't had the chance to try this scenario, I think it would be great at the grocery store. Trying to keep your little one entertained while you shop is not an easy task. I prefer to do our shopping when my husband can come with. That way I can shop much faster while he entertains the boys and pushes around the cart. He probably wouldn't have to do much entertaining with this shirt on, the pockets would be at the perfect level while Bug is riding in the cart.

The mirror is a hard shatter resistant plastic, not flexible, so baby can clearly see his reflection. Bug was pretty interested and tried to take the mirror out, fortunately, he had no such luck.

The textured material is similar to what you find on the bottom of footed pajamas.

 The shirt comes in two different checkered patterns which are appealing to babies and toddlers alike (sizes range from M-XL). 

The shirt is 100% cotton. Wash and rinse in cold water, hang try to avoid shrinking.

What did my boys think of the Crinkle Shirt?
Bug is 17 months old. He is a fairly distracted boy. He goes back and forth. He liked the surprises the shirt had to off and would return to check it out again, but didn't stay for long at any given time. Squirrel is four. He thought the shirt was pretty cool. I was surprised that he actually had interest in playing with it too.

While the shirt is geared toward children two and under, I would say the optimum age is between 6-12 months. When they are still used to sitting on someones lap and aren't distracted by walking. We plan on having one more baby. I think this shirt will make going out and about with an older baby much easier!

What did my husband think of the Crinkle Shirt?
The button-down plaid is totally his style. The first time he wore the shirt wasn't even to play with Bug. He got home from work, changed out of his dress clothes and put this shirt on just because he likes it. This will be a regular shirt for him, whether or not the children are around.

Would I recommend the Crinkle Shirt to a friend?

I sure would! This would be a great baby shower gift for that new dad. Showers are usually geared toward mom-to-be or baby and I am usually stumped to find that perfect gift for daddy-to-be. It would also be a great Christmas gift!

Buy it: You can purchase these shirts at magnustpater.com for $64.95.

Stay connected with Magnus Pater by liking them on Facebook!

Wordologies Giveaway #ForTheHome Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the "For The Home" Giveaway Hop hosted by Mommy's Favorite Things and Mama's Baby Cupcakes. 

This hop is focused on items you'd want/need for your home! After visiting my giveaway, make sure you use the linky below to take a look at the other 40+ blogs and see what they have to offer! Each blog has a minimum prize package of $25 per winner. 

Make sure to check out the Grand Prize hosted on Mommy's Favorite Things blog. This prize is sponsored by WoodSnap.com and is a great prize of FOUR 12x12 personalized photos printed on wood for a retail value of $280!

Just Me and the Boys is offering a prize package from Wordologies valued at $36! 

This prize package includes a Wordologies coffee mug, notepad and magnet.

Check out my Wordologies review of the mug, notebook and magnet here.
I also did a review of their journal trio a couple months ago.

After entering, check out the linky below and hop around to win other great prizes!

Enter using the Giveaway Tools widget below.
Open to US residents only, 18 and older.

Giveaway is open July 8th- July 22nd.

Winner will be e-mailed and will have 48 hours to claim prize before a new winner is chosen.
Mama's Baby Cupcakes, Mommy's Favorite Things and the "For The Home" participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.