Adventures-In-Mommy-Land: July 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Hey Mom, Look What I Did (#42)

Welcome to the 42nd edition of

Hey Mom, Look What I Did!!!

here's a look at some of my favorites....

Make Your Own Parking Lot

(I can think of alot of little boys who would love this idea)

Olympic Crafts for Kids

(celebrate the Olympics with kids by making these cute crafts)

Olympic Painting

(more Olympic fun for little ones)

Now, it's your turn to show us what you've been working on this week and I can't wait to see it!!

Please share your craft projects, baking activities and other fun kid friendly adventures. Grab the link button and put it on your blog, if you like, so that others can find us and share in the fun too.

There are no requirements, but I would love if you would follow this blog via GFC.

I also would like to invite you to come hang out with me on facebook and twitter, where I feature and share some your fabulous projects during the week.

Thanks for joining us....Hope to see you again soon!!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Nathan's Cheeseburger Birthday Cake

I made this for Nathan's birthday.

I found the recipe here

The recipe looks a lot more complicated than it actually is.

The Ingredients

2 18.5 ounce boxes chocolate cake mix

8 large eggs

2 cups buttermilk

1 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup green decorating sugar or granulated sugar

8 spearmint leaf gummy candies

1 yellow sugar sheet made by Wilton's

1 16-ounce tub vanilla frosting

1 16-ounce tub chocolate frosting

3/4 teaspoon yellow food coloring

5 drops red food coloring

2 tablespoons crispy rice cereal

*their recipe calls for orange fondant to make the cheese....but I used the sugar sheet to make it easier. Also, instead of using the food coloring, I used Wilton's brown food paste coloring (just a tiny bit, because honestly when you add the chocolate frosting to the vanilla it makes a nice light brown color anyway).

The Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 2 1/2-quart ovenproof bowl and two 8-inch-round cake pans with cooking spray. Beat the cake mix, eggs, buttermilk and vegetable oil in a large bowl with a mixer.

Divide the batter among the bowl and pans; bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 25 minutes for the pans and about 45 minutes for the bowl. Cool in the pans 15 minutes, then unmold onto racks.

Make the lettuce: Sprinkle some green or white sugar on a cutting board (I used wax paper). Roll out the spearmint candies to 1/8 inch thick with a rolling pin, sprinkling with more sugar to keep the candies from sticking.

Cut each flattened gummy piece into 3 strips. Fold each strip accordion-style to make ruffles; pinch the ends together.

Trim the top of 1 round cake and the flat side of the bowl cake to make them level; crumble the trimmings. Mix the vanilla frosting, 4 tablespoons chocolate frosting and the yellow and red food coloring in a bowl to make a light brown frosting.

Make the bottom bun: Put the trimmed round cake on a serving plate or cake board. Frost with some of the light brown frosting. Arrange the gummy-candy ruffles around the edge of the cake.

Make the patty: Spread the remaining chocolate frosting over the top and sides of the untrimmed round cake. Press the crumbled cake trimmings into the frosting.

(this is what the sugar sheet looks like, in case you were wondering)

Assemble the burger: Put the chocolate patty on the bottom bun, then drape the sugar sheet on top. Frost the bowl-shaped cake with the remaining light brown frosting; place on the patty. Press the rice cereal into the frosting.

This makes for one Very Happy Birthday boy!

Friday, July 27, 2012

My 13th week on Nutrisystem

This week wraps up my 13th week on Nutrisystem.

I thought I was finally making some headway since I was stuck at 164 for a few weeks. Sunday, I couldn't help myself and weighed in (even though, my official weigh in day is Friday) and weighed 162 and was super excited.

Then, Monday came along....

I went for my walk and had to stop halfway through it. My chest was hurting so bad. All week I had been battling my asthma, but didn't think much of it, until Monday night. I had to leave my walk early and come home to use my inhaler. Tuesday, I went to the doctor's and he diagnosed me with a sinus/allergy infection and put me on antibiotics and steroids.

I hate steroids...always have.

They make me gain weight - and that's exactly what happened. I gained not only the 2 pounds that I lost, but another one on top of that. I guess in the grand scheme of things, 3 pounds really isn't that big of a deal and it could be worse {fingers crossed that it doesn't get worse, since I have to take them for another 9 days}. Just another one of those "one step forward, two steps back" sort of thing, huh?

In the meantime, I thought I would share some of my favorite foods this week....

The Breakfast Burrito....

(this is so filling and delicious and I don't normally like breakfast burritos)

For lunch, Italian Wedding Soup

(I love Italian Wedding soup and this one didn't let me down - So Yummy!)

Dinner.....Glazed Chicken Tenders

(Love this....it is so stinkin' good)

And for dessert, Golden Pound Cake

(I'm not much of a cake eater...but I really enjoy eating this with a cup of fresh strawberries and a tablespoon of fat free cool whip - tastes just like strawberry shortcake - delish!!).

So there you have it, I'm a little bit bummed about gaining (officially, I guess you could say a pound, since I weighed 164 last week and this week I weigh 165), but I'm still optimistic that once I'm off the meds and back into my routine again, I can lose it...it is a bit disappointing (not going to lie), but I can do it. The good thing is, I can breathe again and my chest doesn't hurt anymore, so the meds are working. No one ever said this was going to be easy!!

4/27/12 - 180 (starting weight)

5/04/12 - 175 (week one)

5/11/12 - 174 (week two)

5/18/12 - 172 (week three)

5/25/12 - 170 (week four)

6/01/12 - 169 (week five)

6/08/12 - 169 (week six)

6/15/12 - 168 (week seven)

6/22/12 - 166 (week eight)

6/29/12 - 166 (week nine)

7/06/12 - 166 (week ten)

7/13/12 - 164 (week eleven)

7/20/12 - 164 (week twelve)

7/27/12 - 165 (week thirteen)

Do you want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog

*Disclosure ~ I am receiving access to the website and food in exchange for reviewing the diet plan. All opinions herein are my own and not influenced by Nutrisystem.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Hey Mom, Look What I Did (#41)

Welcome to the 41st edition of

Hey Mom, Look What I Did!!!!

here's a look at some of my faves from this week...

Painting with String

(good old messy painting fun.....LOVE it!)

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell

(this read and play along activity looks like fun for little ones)

Sheet Painting

(more messy painting fun!!!)

Painting Sticks

(glad my kids aren't the only ones who enjoy painting...we've painted everything from rocks to sticks too).

Here's another peek of Nathan's Fish Craft...

Now, it's your turn to show us what you've been working on this week and I can't wait to see it!!

There are no requirements, but I would love if you would follow this blog via GFC.

I also would like to invite you to come hang out with me on facebook and twitter, where I feature and share some your fabulous projects during the week.

Thanks for joining us....Hope to see you again soon!!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Save up to 50% off at eShakti

Remember my eShakti review?

Well, eShakti graciously offered to give my readers a 10% off promo code valid til July 31, 2012 when they shop at eShakti.

This code can be used in addition to the existing 'up to 40% OFF Sale' ... which means you can save up to 50% off, when you use the special promo code....how awesome is that?

Here is the code for Adventures In Mommy Land readers - JF26ENE

Take a look at some of the cute stuff you can purchase on sale

from dresses....

to tops.....

to handbags....

to skirts....

There is lots of cute stuff to chose from....and even if you don't like the 40% off sale (and who wouldn't like that ???) you can still use the 10% off code for other purchases...valid til July 31, 2012.

Happy Shopping!!

*Note: The discount code is not case sensitive. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category.

**Disclosure - I am not affliated with or sponsored by eShakit, but I may receive a small portion of any sales that come from this blog.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Keepin' the Faith

Today wraps up my third month on Nutrisystem.

In those three months, I have lost 16 pounds and 15 inches. I think that's pretty good so far. I'm sure it could be better, but we all lose weight at different paces so I'm counting my blessings and being thankful for what I lost. Sure, I could be upset and wish I had lost more, but I'm not going to be. I'm just happy that I'm getting healthier and making smarter choices when it comes to food and exercise.

(here I am after 3 months - 164 pounds)

I've gone from wearing XXL shirts to L and from size 16/18 pants to 12/14....and I'm no where near being done with this journey - it's merely just beginning.

The kids and Rich have been so encouraging to me...my biggest cheerleaders, I swear! Sometimes I think I wouldn't have made it this far if it weren't for them.

In fact, as I was getting ready to do my monthly video, they all said can we say on camera why we love that you are losing weight. I said sure, why not. Nathan has even said things like Mommy, you aren't as squishy as you used to be Hahaha! That was the BEST compliment EVER!

I feel so blessed by everyone's emails and messages on facebook. I have had people tell me that they were inspired to lose weight by following my journey. I love hearing from everyone, so please don't stop. And if you are trying to lose weight as well....don't give up! If I can do this, you can too! I know first hand that it is NOT easy, but it is definitely worth it!