It Was A Good Day: SPUD Showed Up At My Door

I'm not a fan of going to the grocery store; the crowded parking lot, the long lines, the unflattering lighting. And it's even worse during the holidays, although I have to admit I did get an adrenaline rush out of wrestling that woman over that last Christmas ham. (Sorry, mom – hope your shoulder heals.)

So I was thrilled when I was asked to check out SPUD.com, a company that delivers locally grown organic produce and groceries right to your door. All the great stuff that I usually seek out at the grocery store, magically appearing in my kitchen with just a click of a mouse. Too bad the lighting in my office doesn't flatter my chin any better.

Here's a little bit about SPUD.com, from their website:

In 1997, SPUD.COM was founded based on the idea that there was a better, more sustainable way to buy groceries. Not only was there an opportunity to directly connect communities with local farmers and food producers, ordering food online and using a just-in-time home delivery system meant a better product and convenience for customers.

When you purchase local food, you are involved in an important movement that contributes to your local economy, improves food security, reduces your environmental impact and provides more nutrient rich foods.

• Over 50% of our products are locally sourced, which creates jobs and reduces transportation emissions.
• Our goal is to buy from as many local farms and suppliers as possible. By buying locally, you get fresher, tastier food and help support your local community.
• We sell a growing list of Fair Trade products guaranteeing better wages and conditions for farmers and food producers
• 100% of our produce is either certified organic or local and sustainably produced, while over 50% of our grocery items are organic with the remainder being naturally produced with no chemicals or preservatives. We sell a variety of eco-friendly products like recycled toilet paper and phosphate-free detergents.
• Our delivery service reduces pollution and congestion. When a van leaves our warehouse with 100 orders, it decreases the number of vehicles on the road.

I was impressed with the selection of products on SPUD.com – several varieties of baguette, for instance (including a dark chocolate one that I resisted in a favor of a plain one) and lots of cheeses (including our choice, a Dubliner white cheddar.) Plenty of locally-grown, organic produce – from the everyday (apples and bananas) to my favorite Japanese squash (Kabocha.) And a big selection of staples like canned beans, tomatoes, rices, pastas and grains to keep your pantry stocked. The only thing missing: the current issue of People magazine I always pick up at the check-out line.

And best of all – on most products I found the prices comparable with my local grocery store; $2.89 for that aforementioned Artisan baguette, $4.89 for the cheese. A bag of broccoli florets was $4.99, the same price of its non-organic counterpart at the grocery store. Add to all this the $4.99 I saved from not buying that People and I think I definitely came out ahead, although woefully uninformed about Kim Kardashian's recent OB visit.

(One unique feature – SPUD.com has some special product categories you can shop by, including Fair Trade, 100 Mile Diet,  Local and Picks For Kids.)

I placed my order right before Christmas, and it was scheduled to arrive just as we were leaving on a short vacation during the week before New Year's. This was perfect, as we were set to stay at a cabin in Yosemite, one without phone service or internet. I knew I was going to need a lot of food to keep my mind off of all my friends' Facebook posts of cute cats I was missing.

The food arrived just on schedule, in sturdy plastic crates. All the food was packaged for maximum freshness – cold foods were packed in silver insulated pouches with ice packs and frozen food with dry ice. Part of my order included frozen chicken breasts and they were frozen solid when they arrived. (Added bonus: Those silver pouches make awesome evening bags – finally I can take a sandwich to the opera!)

While shopping for groceries on SPUD.com will probably not eliminate my trips to my local grocery store entirely, I do intend to use it as a way to get more organic and locally grown produce into my kitchen. And I can't wait to try it out for my next big holiday get-together – although I will miss fighting over those last few Easter hams.

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Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post, but I did receive product for review from Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery, a company that sources local and fresh produce for delivery to your doorstep, as part of a campaign with MomsLA.com. All opinions are my own. 

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Blogger Luncheon at the Beach: It's a Tough Job But Somebody's Got To Do It

A few weeks ago I was invited to a blogger's luncheon hosted by Child's Play Communications. The event took place in the beautiful courtyard of the Shade Hotel in sunny Manhattan Beach, and while there we had to dine on a delicious buffet of amazing food, drink refreshing "Momosas" and then receive wonderful products from a variety of companies. I also had my makeup done and then ate ice cream. The torture was relentless I tell you.

All kidding aside, it was a fantastic event, and besides getting to hang out with some of my blogger friends I got to check out a host of interesting products. Many of them were for younger kids, but there were a few that were targeted towards the tweens and teens and a few that were just for the moms. Here are some that I especially liked:

Dyson: Maybe you have to be a parent to understand how anyone could lust after a vacuum cleaner, but if you heard the gasps and moans when the winner of the Dyson raffle was announced you'd get a pretty good idea. I think of Dyson as the George Clooney of household appliances, something totally hot and completely out of my league. Someday I'll have one and tame that bad boy. I'm going to stop here before I start making inappropriate references to hoses.

Pottery Barn Teens: I'm a big Pottery Barn fan, and they were there highlighting their bedding and accessories line for teens and tweens. Which is perfect since I'm planning on a major overhaul here during the summer -- my 12 & 14 year olds will be getting their own rooms. (Just thinking about it makes me want to dive under the covers, or in this case a tasteful duvet.) I love all of PB Teens' room themes -- nothing too overly 'girly' -- and I'm especially in love with these pillows.

Toyota: I had a Toyota Camry for years and never had it accelerate uncontrollably through a storefront, so I still believe in the brand. And with our Quest getting on in years we've been thinking about what to buy next. Unfortunately I missed out on the test drives the Toyota reps were giving, but I did pick up a brochure that has me crushing on a Sienna.

Pajama Jeans: They're jeans! They're pajamas! They're jeans! What they are is perfect for someone who calls herself sweatpantsmom, don't you think? They're soft, stretchable pants that look like jeans but feel like pajamas. And can totally be worn out in public, no matter what my husband says. And while they elicited some groans from my teenager when she saw them, I say they're the greatest invention since, well, sweatpants.

Backyard Safari Outfitters: Summit Toys was there to introduce their new line of outdoor-themed toys, and when they showed me one of them it was as if they had read my mind: A BUG VACUUM. How cool is this? Now I could get my kids actively involved in getting rid of spiders for me, and pass it off as 'fun'! I especially liked the two guys they sent to represent their company. They were dressed like Scout leaders and were truly enthusiastic about getting kids interested in the great outdoors. Many of their items could be used for kids to put together their own mini earthquake kits, particularly timely given all of the rumbling that's been going on.

Temptress: This beauty and skincare boutique in El Segundo sent over a couple of makeup artists to do some touch-ups on the brunching mom bloggers. What a FABULOUS idea! I wish more events would have lipstick and eyeshadow at the ready -- it would save me hours in prep time.

Coldstone Creamery: The ice cream chain brought along their newest creation, The Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich. Coldstone ice cream sandwiched between two gigantic Oreo cookies. Need I say more?

Shade Hotel: Last but not least, the scene of this lovely event, the modern, hip Shade Hotel. I've passed by the hotel several times and have dined at the nearby Le Pain Quotidien, but never stopped to look inside. I'm glad I finally got a chance to check it out, because it's definitely on my list of local hotels to explore. It's right in the middle of a cluster of trendy shops and restaurants, and best of all - walking distance from the beach.

Thanks to Child's Play Communications for a fun, relaxing amazing afternoon in the sun! You really know how to make a girl suffer.

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tags: childs play communications | dyson | toyota | shade hotel | coldstone creamery | pajama jeans | pottery barn teens | backyard safari outfitters

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Bosch Tassimo: The Coffee Maker That Inspired a Movie

I love getting products to review, but my favorite has got to be coffee makers. I've gotten a few, and it's safe to say I don't think I've ever met a coffee maker I didn't like. There's something instantly appealing about a machine that dispenses my favorite beverage at the touch of a button, and without smacking its gum or glaring at me when I ask for extra foam.

A few weeks ago I was sent the Bosch Tassimo Single-Serve Coffee Brewer. And while every machine I've reviewed has its strength and weaknesses, the Bosch was the only coffee maker that inspired a movie.

The Bosch works on the popular 'pod' coffee system, but one of the unique things about it is that you can use milk pods and the machine will produce frothy steamed milk. And you know what that means -- kids can make their own hot cocoa! I don't know about you, but to me this is an amazing thing! A revelation! I don't think I've been this happy about a child milestone since my youngest learned how to trim her own toenails.

And speaking of my youngest, that would be my 11-year-old Kiyomi. She was so moved by the Bosch that she made a movie showing how easy it is to make a cup of hot cocoa. I am in awe of her mad iMovie skillz -- with that and the fact that she can make her own hot beverage, I told her she was probably ready for a job at a major studio. Plus she can trim her own toenails which makes her over-qualified.

I give you, "Hot Cocoa."



And here's the small print that would normally roll by quickly along with the closing credits:

Aside from hot cocoa, the Bosch makes an excellent cup of coffee, and also has its own built-in water filter. I've picked up Tassimo pods at Target and online, but the milk pods are harder to find and are quite a bit more expensive than the coffee varieties. I would say the biggest drawback is the inability to use your own coffee -- some one-cup brewers come with small filter baskets that you can fill with your own grind and use in place of a pod. I really like that feature. Also, there's the environmental impact of disposing of a plastic pod with every cup of coffee -- developing a filter basket for the Bosch would at least alleviate part of this problem.

Like credit cards and black leggings, I say coffee makers are something you can never have enough of (I've got four on my counter right now.) And if you're looking to splurge on a new kitchen accessory, I think the Bosch would be a good choice. Besides, when was the last time a toaster inspired a movie?

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tags: bosch tassimo single serve coffee brewer | bosch | pod coffee makers

Oh look, more small print: I was not given any monetary compensation for writing about this product, nor was I required to write a review. I was given a Bosch Tassimo Coffee Brewer and three packages of coffee for the purposes of this review. No animals were harmed in the making of the movie or in the brewing of the hot cocoa, although the cat had to be put in a headlock a couple of times when he tried to lick the milk pod.

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Zojirushi: A Love Story

Sixteen years ago my husband and I got married. As is customary, we spent an afternoon before our wedding rushing around a department store greedily pointing to things we wanted people to buy for us in that bizarre American ritual known as 'Registering for gifts.' While I pondered the necessity of a lead crystal butter dish, my husband had the wisdom to add two of these Zojirushi stainless steel thermoses to our list. Those thermoses, like our marriage, have stood the test of time. (Insert "Keeping it hot!" joke here.)

And what awesome thermoses they are, able to keep our coffee hot for up to 7 hours during numerous road trips and still look stylish at the same time. And I've never spilled a drop with the ingenious pouring spout, even when my husband went over that curb that he thought was a speed bump. At some point we lost track of one of our trusty thermoses - probably pilfered by a jealous friend or 'borrowed' by a co-worker - but the one remaining still accompanies us on all of our trips. Is it the secret to our lasting marriage? I don't want to give it too much credit, but let's just say I'm much easier to get along with when I've got a cup of hot coffee in my hand.

So I was excited when Zojirushi invited me to a cooking demo to check out a couple of their new products being held at one of my favorite stores - Sur La Table. Here was a chance to see if anything else from their line could hold a candle to my stealth, 16-year-old thermos - perhaps something I could trade in my lead crystal butter dish for.

Once there we were treated to a great demo by one of their professional chefs who started off by showing us the Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker & Warmer. (Best. Name. Ever.) Now, being Japanese-American, my rice cooker is something that gets used pretty frequently in my house, but like my thermos it's an older model and couldn't hold a candle to the space-age looking machine they were demonstrating. The Neuro Fuzzy has separate settings for cooking long grain, short grain and brown rice, an automatic keep-warm feature and even plays a little song when the rice is done. Do YOU have any appliances that sing to you? I didn't think so.

Next up was the Home Bakery Supreme Bread Maker. I've never owned a bread maker since it isn't something I ever thought I'd use - I prefer to pick up my bread in those gigantic economy packs at Costco like normal people do. But then they showed us how you can make meat loaf in this thing. Yes, they also told us about all the varieties of white, wheat, and rye bread you could make, but I have to admit that after I heard about the meat loaf everything else was a blur. We had a taste of one they had made earlier and it was delicious - moist and flavorful. Did you hear me - MEAT LOAF! IN A BREAD MAKER! Personally I think they should re-name it the Meat Loaf Machine and it would fly off the shelves.

Our session ended with a sushi making lesson, and we had opportunity to make our own custom rolls. My fellow bloggers Kim, Heather and FujiMama and I were set loose with sushi mats, fresh rice from the Neuro Fuzzy and bowls of ingredients and by the end of the session we were all rolling like pros. They even taught us how to make a BLT sushi roll, which is just as heavenly and delicious as it sounds. And while I didn't splurge on any of the shiny new appliances they showed us, I'm putting them both on my list - I've heard people are even registering for anniversary gifts these days.

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tags: zojirushi | neuro fuzzy | home bakery supreme | tuff slim

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We Made Ice Cream in Our Living Room.

Earlier this year I purchased an ice cream maker, our first ever. While my two girls were excited, I could tell they were a little disappointed at how little they were involved in the actual making of the ice cream. Sure they mixed up all the ingredients, but then it was poured into the frozen bowl of the ice cream maker and they were left to wander aimlessly through the house, counting down the minutes to when they could dig into their frozen treat.

So when we received the Light-Up Ice Cream Maker Ball recently I thought it was the perfect opportunity for some good old-fashioned ice cream making. Well, as old-fashioned as you could get, seeing as the ball resembled a toy out of a futuristic space movie. The concept is simple: Fill up one end of the ball with ice, rock salt and the special light-up 'ice cubes' included, fill up the other end with your ice cream ingredients, toss and roll the ball around for awhile and voila - homemade ice cream! My kids had fun using it, although my 12-year-old likes our electric ice cream maker better for the simple fact that she can make ice cream and still talk to her friends on the computer while doing it. Kids these days.

Here are some pros and cons we found:

Pros:

• The ball requires no electricity, which means it's perfect for picnics, camping and especially appropriate for young kids.
• According to my 10-year-old, the Light-Up Ice Cream Maker Ball made "the best ice cream ever," even better than our electric machine could churn out.
• Tossing and rolling the ball provides a fun activity to do while you're waiting for the ice cream to freeze. Cuts down the whining that parents are subjected to, which is a big plus.
• It's a great, interactive activity for a large group of people. I can't imagine ten people huddled around an electric ice cream maker, but the Light-Up Ice Cream Maker Ball would be great at a party.

Cons:

• Because the ball is made of hard plastic, any rolling or tossing needs to be done over carpet or grass. I was afraid of scratching my hardwood floors, or the ball cracking if it hit the floor, so our activity involved more shaking the ball and passing it around.
• The ball tended to leak after a few minutes, so make sure and check both covers periodically.
• After twenty minutes, the consistency of the ice cream was still pretty runny, despite following the instructions to re-fill the receptacle with ice and rock salt and stir up the ingredients. But my kids didn't care, digging out the frozen parts by the scoopful and devouring it.

Bottom line is, the Light-Up Ice Cream Maker Ball would make a great, unusual gift for anyone with young children (or those not already jaded by the presence of an electric ice cream maker.) You can buy yours online here, and check out their extensive selection of ice cream products and supplies here.

See the Light-Up Ice Cream Maker Ball in action:



Important to note: Although the people in this video are seen kicking the ball, the box clearly states, "DO NOT KICK OR THROW! This could result in damage to the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker Ball and is not covered under warranty." So play at your own risk.

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tags: light up ice cream maker ball | play and freeze ice cream maker | holiday gift ideas | food gifts

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A Clean Break

Dear Method 25oz. Dish Soap,

I love you. I love your beautiful, sleek bottle, your hip, subtle colors and your fresh, clean scents (especially you, cucumber and pink grapefruit.) I also love the fact that, like all Method products, you're non-toxic and environmentally friendly. At almost $4 a bottle, you're way more expensive than the other dish soaps, but I buy you anyway. Yes, make that way more expensive - I believe with their sale price and a couple of coupons, I could get one of your competitors and they'd end up owing me $2.95. But such is the price of love.

But I'm afraid form over function has gotten the better of you. Your sleek, shiny body with its clean lines looks great on my kitchen sink, but isn't meant to be picked up with soapy hands. Did you know you turn into a missile with the right combination of water and suds? In fact, just today you slipped out of my grasp , bounced off my espresso machine and went careening off the counter, narrowly missing my cat. Boy was he pissed.

Also, your spout sucks. After repeatedly getting clogged, and me having to repeatedly clean it, I finally ripped your entire top off today. You're not nearly as attractive now.

So, Method 25oz. Dish Soap I'm afraid I've reached the end of the line with you. The next time I'm at Target and I'm tempted to reach for your fetching body, I'll remember all the heartache you caused me the last time I was washing dishes, and I'll reach for one of your less attractive, cheaper shelf-mates instead.

xxxxoooo,
Sweatpantsmom

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tags: method | method cleaning products | method dish soap | household products

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Senseo Single Serve Coffee Pod System: Now, I'm Caffeinated 24/7

I have a saying, "You can never have enough coffee makers." We're a family of four with only two coffee drinkers (the other two, my kids 9 and 11, are the reason we need to drink coffee) but have in our possession five devices for brewing caffeinated beverages. There's the 10-cup grind n' brew, the Starbucks Barista espresso machine, an ancient French press and two stovetop espresso pots. I'd like to try an experiment one day where I have all five contraptions brewing at the same time, drink all the coffee and then see if I can stay up for nine days straight.

And then, there were six! I was recently asked to test out a Senseo Single Serve Coffee Pod System which I quickly agreed to – how could I turn down a chance to have the latest in coffee brewing accessories in my kitchen? It would be like Paris Hilton passing on the latest Chanel Bag. I'm a slave to coffee fashion - when they come out with that espresso machine that can be installed into the glove compartment of my van, I'll be the first in line.

The Senseo Single Serve Coffee Pod System is exactly as it sounds; a way to brew a single serving of coffee using pre-packaged coffee pods. But unlike soup-for-one or those small, sad one-glass bottles of wine, a single serving coffee doesn't scream loser. A single serving of coffee says, "I'm hip! I can have coffee whenever I want! And I'll be up all night!"

This machine couldn't be easier to use. Fill the reservoir up with water, pop a coffee pod into the holder, select your cup size and brew yourself a single cup of fresh hot coffee. And in spite of it's single serve title, the Senseo actually can brew two cups at the same time - simply put two pods into the larger holder that's included, and choose the two-cup option. The best part? No grounds to spill, no pot to wash, no coffee grinder to clean.

The other great benefit of the Senseo is satisfying that one person who always shows up at gatherings asking for decaf coffee. Personally I don't understand these people and usually ask them to leave the premises immediately, but whatever. Now, I can keep a package of Senseo Decaf coffee pods on hand to brew them a single cup of unleaded brew before I give them a lecture on the health benefits of caffeine and send them on their way.

The Senseo coffee pods are widely available (I've seen them at Ralphs and Target) and come in a variety of brews– everything from Sumatra to Espresso blends, and flavors like Vanilla and Hazelnut. Like the decaf people, I don't get the flavored-coffee-people either, but I'll make sure and have a few flavored pods on hand for them, just to be nice.

Now, for the best part:

Want to try out the Senseo Single Serve Coffee maker yourself? Click on the link below and fill out the (short) survey for your chance to receive everything you see below:


Click here for your chance to get caffeinated.

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tags: senseo | senseo single serve coffee pod system | coffee | single serve coffee maker

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Reynolds Handi-Vac: It Really Sucks, But That's a Good Thing

One of the things on my sister-in-law's Christmas wish list was a food sealer, a contraption that seals your food inside plastic in order for it to last longer in your freezer. I'd seen them on TV but always thought they were a waste of money. Why not just put the food in a ziploc bag and suck the air out with your mouth, or with the vacuum cleaner like normal people do?

So when I received the Reynolds Handi-Vac to try out, I saw that they liked my way as well, although theirs is maybe slightly more sanitary. The Handi-Vac is a breeze and works like this: put your food (chicken breasts that have NOT been sitting in your van for three days, for example) inside the special, reusable vacuum freezer bag, seal the zipper, and press the tip of the Handi-Vac flat against the air valve on the bag. Press the 'On' button and extract the air from the bag. Repeat with the other ninety pounds of chicken breasts you've purchased from Costco.

The food sealers that I've seen are big and bulky and take up a lot of counter space, which is a big deal if you're like me and barely have room on your counter to slice an apple because of all the coffee makers and copies of People magazine laying around. The Handi-Vac is small and easy to store - in fact it's only slightly larger than our ear thermometer, which no doubt will make for some hilarious stories the next time my husband's running a fever in the middle of the night and I go looking for the thermometer half asleep.

Also, the Handi-Vac is incredibly affordable. Some of the counter-top food sealers can run as high as $300, where the Handi-Vac can be bought, as a kit that includes the vacuum freezer bags, for $9.99 at Target. That's a savings of $290, which you can then spend elsewhere in the store, maybe on ten pairs of shoes or twenty Xhilaration purses.

Finally, the re-usable bags were a big attraction for me - other food sealers use rolls of plastic that can't be used again. I don't see why the landfills should suffer just because I bought enough steaks to last me until the next century, and now I need a hundred cubic yards of non-biodegradable matter to seal them away in.

If nothing else, go check out the cool demo that they've put together. I've watched it a couple of times, and now I'm going to have to go have a nice, fat T-bone steak. Maybe I've got one in my freezer.

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tags: reynolds handi vac | kitchen gadgets | food sealer | food storage

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The HP Photosmart Portable Printer Just Might Be My Favorite Gadget Ever.

I'm the gadget nut in this family. While my husband would be content to use a rotary-dial phone and a TV that needs to be hand-cranked, I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning unless I know that there is some electronic device waiting to be purchased that will make my day more exciting. I've got my eyes set on a one-cup coffeemaker (even though we already have a grind-and-brew and an espresso machine fighting for space on our counter) and my husband has noticed that I make odd slurping noises whenever an iPhone commercial flashes on the TV screen.

So when The Parent Bloggers Network sent me an HP Photosmart photo printer to test out, I was ecstatic. Never mind that we have two working printers in our house already - one in my office and one in the kitchen for the kids to use - I'd seen these in action before and I couldn't wait to try one out. Plus I knew it would come in especially handy for printing out a detailed photo-wish-list of all the other gadgets I wanted for Christmas.

First off, this printer solved the number one problem I have with digital photography: the fact that I can take a gazillion photos of say, my daughters birthday party or the neighbor's annual Nude Barbecue, but none of those pictures ever see the light of day. Before, with traditional film cameras, I'd rush to get my film developed and then could share those photos with family and friends. Grandma could feel like she was actually at my daughter's Hello Kitty party, and my husband could hang those barbecue photos right up in his office.

But unless I emailed them out, I would never share my digital photos because printing them out was such a laborious process. Open the photos in Photoshop! Resize them! Arrange them on a page! Add to that the fact that both my husband and I are designers and will analyze and correct color for days on end, and you can see why those photos of my daughter's birthday party in April have never made it into an album. That would be April 1999.

The Photosmart solves that problem, and then some. I have to stress here how unbelievably easy to set up and use this device is. I'm not big on reading manuals, so I was relieved to see it came with a 'cheat sheet,' one of those posters that has basic instructions (and diagrams) for doing a quick set-up on a product. I timed myself, and it took me exactly eight minutes to set up the Photosmart and print my first photo. Not bad, considering it took me five hours just to figure out how to install the tape cartridge into the video camera we bought a few months ago.

The touch-screen on the Photosmart works beautifully, and except for the fact that it just amped up my longing for an iPhone, I have to say it's one of my favorite features. It makes navigating through the thumbnails of your images incredibly easy, and gives my hands a nice break from using a mouse or a keyboard.

I first used the printer without hooking it up to my computer. For me, this is the way to go, as it makes the printer truly portable as a stand-alone device. You simply pop the memory card from your camera into the designated slot (to accommodate various types of media from compact flash cards to memory sticks to MultiMedia cards) and your photos appear on the touch-screen in thumbnail format. Touch any photo to enlarge, or touch the arrows to scroll through your images. Seriously, you could use this printer while driving a car, drinking a mocha and talking on your cell phone, although I would never endorse such ridiculous behavior to my readers. I would urge you to forgo the sugar in the mocha in favor of a double cappuccino.

Once you've picked a picture to print (or you could go ahead and 'print all' if you're that type of devil-may-care reckless personality) you can either do a straight print or customize with any of the many tricks the Photosmsart has up its sleeve. You can put a variety of borders on your photo (the Summer border with Naked Barbecue kills) or place icon 'stickers' on your image (useful for putting a pacifier over the beer can in that photo of your drunk uncle.) Get the handy stylus out of it's smartly-designed nook on the printer and draw on your image using a couple of different brush widths and a variety of colors. Or, use the onscreen keyboard to type in a caption in one of five different fonts and several different colors. You'll never have to scrawl "Loser" with a Sharpie over your ex-boyfriend's picture again!

(Their red-eye feature works great - my results were just as good as those I get in iPhoto.)

I did try using the printer in tandem with my computer, but I have to say that for me it defeated the whole purpose of having a photo printer. It took the novelty and fun out of being able to point and print out an image directly from my memory card, and I found the program a little cumbersome. The USB cable (which usually need to be purchased separately but was provided to me by HP) just seemed like yet another cord to deal with. I'm going to unplug it and use it to tie back the curtains in my bedroom.

I was also sent a set of HP Photobooks to test out, and it made me marvel at how ingenious the whole HP photo system is. I started off with the smaller, 5 x 7 sized book and was able to print out my photos with my Photosmart and place them right into the album (the pages snap right in with their ingeniously-designed snap-spines.) Unfortunately I wasn't able to use the software included becuse it isn't Mac compatible, but apparently you can use it to create different layouts with different themes and add text and desig elements to the page. I'm hooked!

My two daughters, ages 9 and 11 couldn't get enough of the Photosmart and turned into photo-printing maniacs; I had to put my foot down when I realized they were going through all of my paper printing pictures of my daughter's stuffed rabbit in various forms of inebriation while holding a wine bottle Christmas tree ornament. I'm considering purchasing them a Photosmart of their very own; besides wanting to keep mine all to myself, I could see the touch screen taking a beating at the hands of overzealous tween girls, and I don't see the stylus hanging around too long before it's lost in the seat cushions of the couch.

Lastly, as if the Photosmart weren't awesome enough on it's own, I'm thinking of ordering this cool carrying case so that I can take my nifty printer with me wherever I go. Look for me - I'll be the one printing photos while in line at Trader Joes. Of course, I'll be on my iPhone at the same time.

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*Wanna put those photos of yours into an album as a present for Grandma? Click here to get 20% off Photo Books at the HP store.

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tags: hewlett packard | hp photosmart photo printer | photograpy | hp photo books

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Deceptively Delicious: Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables, One Pureed Squash at a Time

Okay, don't hate me, but I've never had a problem getting my kids to eat. Anything. From every vegetable you can think of, to raw octopus, to fiery curry - they'll try anything once and they usually end up liking it. In fact, my biggest problem at restaurants is trying to keep our bill down while they attempt to order one of everything on the menu - bisques made with strange fish, appetizers that contain mysterious animal body parts - "Just to see what it tastes like." I know it's freakish. But if it's any consolation they won't eat the school pizza, because it's square-shaped. Can you blame them?

So when The Parent Bloggers Network asked me to review Jessica Seinfeld's new book, Deceptively Delicious, I was a little skeptical. Do we really need to 'deceive' our kids into eating vegetables by pureeing them, mashing them or otherwise rendering them unrecognizable and then hiding them in foods? When at the age of 18 they finally come upon a real vegetable in its natural state, say a bell pepper, will they become puzzled and wonder aloud what the 'hideous green bulbous thing' is on their plate? Are we setting our kids up to become ridiculed because they're the only ones at the senior banquet who don't know what a zucchini is?

But then I got the book in the mail and I have to admit I could see what all the hoopla is about. Even Oprah digs it, and I was starting to come around, too. It's full of straightforward recipes with easy-to-understand directions and basic ingredients. Right off the bat I applauded it for it's chic un-stuffiness. Not a truffle oil or duck tongue to be found, thank goodness.

The basis of the recipes are vegetable purees, the secret ingredients that Seinfeld recommends you 'hide' in the foods, but I see them more as nutritional boosts. Cauliflower puree added to tuna salad, spinach puree added to brownies - ingenious! Who wouldn't get behind the idea of getting some folic acid along with your afternoon chocolate fix? But at the same time, I still think it wouldn't hurt to still serve your kid a cauliflower floret dipped in homemade ranch dressing, or maybe some whole spinach leaves scrambled into eggs. Obviously things are alot more fun over at Seinfeld's house than at the Vegetable Lady's house over here.

Being a designer, I have to say that my favorite aspect of the book is it's retro feel. From the kitschy illustrations (reminiscent of '50's clip-art) to the photography, it brought back memories of cookbooks that my mother had used to introduce me to cooking when I was a little girl. Is it improper to use a cookbook as a coffee-table book? Because I'd like to leave this one out for everyone to see. It reminds me of my favorite entertaining book, Amy Sedaris' I Like You, but without the snark and tips on how to wash your private parts.

But I still think that only serving our kids vegetables that have been mashed and pureed robs them of experiencing the beauty of vegetables in their natural form - the crisp of a sweet pea or the adventure of eating an artichoke for the first time. Instead of hiding the vegetables, what about coming up with creative ways to serve them that would entice kids to try them? I've found that with my own two girls, a visual presentation is sometimes all that's needed. I introduced them to raw red bell peppers by slicing them into thin sticks, standing them up in a cup like a bouquet and serving it with a side of hummus. Worked like a charm, and I saved myself the trouble of hauling out the Cuinsinart.

But in spite of my differences with Seinfeld's "deceptive" tactics, I would still recommend Deceptively Delicious. Because when all is said and done, it's a beautiful book with easy recipes and wholesome ingredients aimed at keeping our kids healthy - shouldn't all books be so noble? And then I came down off my high horse (aren't you glad?) and thought, if it helps even one kid get a green bean coursing through his small intestine, I'm all for it.

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tags: jessica seinfeld | deceptively delicious | cookbooks | cookbook reviews | oprah |

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Cleans Dishes, Smells Nice And Is Fun At Parties, Just Like Me.

The next time you're in my kitchen and you notice a clean, fresh scent, it might just be my dishwashing soap and not the back of my neck. I've been using this ingenious invention lately, and now my kitchen smells like water lily and jasmine instead of stale coffee grounds and old fruit. Everyone's in a better mood!

Dawn Simple Pleasures has an air freshener built into the base. The scent isn't overpowering, and the bottle is a nice compact size that isn't an eyesore on the counter.

But did you know the really cool thing about Dawn soap? It makes the best, biggest, strongest bubbles, and that's on the sage advice of a bubble magician I talked to at a party. (Yes, I talk to bubble magicians - I'm such the social vixen) And here's a video (with an awesome Joe Jackson soundtrack) to show you how to do it:



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tags: dawn simple pleasures | how to make bubbles | kitchen products | bubble recipe

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Beauty and the Bowl: My Shiny Adventures With Hi-Tech Bathroom Products

Awhile back I was asked by the Parent Bloggers Network to give my opinion on a toilet cleaner and a tub and tile cleaner, which they informed me they would be sending free of charge. I eagerly agreed, since everyone knows cleaning is high on my list of least favorite activities, right up there with jury duty and being picked last for kickball. It was like a dream come true - a clean bathroom, free of charge!

So imagine my surprise when I realized the 'cleaners' they were referring to weren't actually people coming over to clean my bathroom, but products. Deflated, I agreed. After all, free is free and that ring around my toilet bowl wasn't going to clean itself.

The first product I tried was the Kaboom Never Scrub Continuous Toilet Cleaning System. My husband was suspicious of this one, since he's wary of any 'unnecessary' chemicals coursing through our plumbing system. So, the hardest part was figuring out a way to do it behind the little tree-hugger's back. While other women wait until their husbands leave the house so they can empty the liquor cabinet or invite the FedEx man in for a back rub (okay, me neither) I get my thrills by illicitly installing toilet-cleaning devices. Hot!

I have to say it was remarkably easy to install, even for a non-handy person like myself. It definitely seemed to keep the toilet clean, although I was disappointed to see that it couldn't do a thing for that messy pile of Oprah magazines stacked next to it. One of the things I liked was that it didn't turn the water a hideous blue color that I've seen other cleaning systems do - to me this just screams to the world, "I'm not scrubbing my toilet!" Because ideally you want your toilet to look clean and still be able to complain about cleaning it to all your visitors.

The second product, Kaboom Shower, Tub & Tile Cleaner worked equally well, and actually did make my tired old tiles 'gleam.' It definitely worked best when you followed the directions to let the spray sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing, but if you're like me and two minutes seems like an eternity to spend cleaning your bathroom, an immediate rinsing still works well. My only problem with it was the spray seemed to come out unevenly, but that could have been due to a faulty valve, or the fact that my shower was so filthy it was actually scaring the spray back into the bottle.

The thing I liked best about both of these products was the mild scent. While most people like their bathrooms smelling like pomegranate essence or a field of daisies, I detest flowery, fruity scents and would prefer mine to have the ammonia smell of a hospital ward that can conjure up images of Nurse Ratched barreling down the hallway rolling an IV pole behind her. So the slightly soapy, mildly disinfectant scent of Kaboom is a nice compromise.

But don't take my word for it - try some Kaboom products for yourself. Check out their website at Kaboom.com and then go read what others have to say about these products at Parent Bloggers Network.

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tags: kaboom | parent bloggers network

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I Like A Little (25% Less) Sugar In My Bowl.

I was recently sent a box of Fruity Cheerios to try. This was exciting on two fronts:

1) Free cereal!
2) I wouldn't have to feel guilty about buying something with the word 'Fruity' in the title.

Not that I have anything against sugar-infused, kid-appealing breakfast cereal. In fact, we buy it regularly - Trix, Fruit Loops, Cocoa Puffs - they all have graced our cabinets. But here's the trick - I almost always use it as a 'topping' on top of plain cereal (usually Cheerios, or Trader Joe's), sort of like the marinara on top of pasta. Or chocolate sauce on ice cream. Or vodka - well, you get the picture.

When I was pregnant with Kira I remember having, along with my other odd cravings, the urge to have one of my childhood favorites, Cap'n Crunch. So after buying a box of it a the supermarket, I sat down with a big bowl, alongside my plate of Spaghetti O's, jar of pickles and my glass of yak milk. I took one bite of the cereal and could feel the sugar coursing through every tooth and root in my mouth. It was so strong I was certain it had just permeated my placenta and given my unborn child a mouth full of cavities on her unformed teeth. I vowed to give my children sugared cereals only in moderation in the future. However I continue to consider Spaghetti O's the nectar of the Gods.

The girls almost never get an entire bowl of sugary goodness (unless Rigel is serving it up, which is a whole other issue. This is a man who puts honey on raisin toast. Who does that? Isn't the toast already sweet? That's like putting sugar on top of a cookie, for chrissakes.)

Where was I?

Fruity Cheerios!

I'm happy to say that with the 25% less sugar ("than the leading fruity cereal") they promise on the box, these brightly colored circles aren't nearly as sweet as their counterparts and as an added bonus they don't make my teeth feel like they're going to fall out. Also, the sugary cereal to plain cereal ratio is much lower in my girls' bowl, which they like. Why, if I'm feeling particularly in a good mood one of these mornings, I might just give the girls an entire bowl of Fruity Cheerios, not cut with any of the plain stuff. Along with their yak milk.

Oh, and there's a third front. I finally have an excuse to buy this:

Because having to pour cereal out of the box is just so much work.

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tags: fruity cheerios | breakfast cereal | pregnancy cravings |

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I Use It Everyday: My Starbucks Barista Is My Crack.

When we decided to buy our first minivan four years ago we already knew which one we wanted. We had seen this one advertised and fell in love with its sleek design and the sunroof windows that went all the way to the back of the van. I was completely taken in by their marketing campaign that had hip mothers - artists, surfers and musicians - all happily driving their well behaved, impeccably groomed children to museums and raves. Basically, every superficial thing about this particular vehicle sucked us in and three weeks later we had one sitting in our driveway.

We never even test-drove it.

When I bought an espresso machine it was after four months of tedious research, numerous visits to kitchen and specialty stores and many hours perusing online reviews. I 'test drove' and then returned no fewer than five different machines from four different stores.

Because, really - what's more important - a vehicle that's going to be responsible for safely transporting your your precious children, or a small appliance whose only real purpose is to dispense a heavily caffeinated beverage to sip with your afternoon donut?

My search led me to an 'espresso expert' in a small cramped shop on the Westside whose company specialized in turning out custom machines for cafes and coffeehouses. After talking with me for awhile he said he knew of a perfect machine for me. I expected him to put in a call to someone named Guido living in a quaint village on the coast of Italy, who would then build a custom machine just for me that would be wrapped in goat pelts and hand delivered to my door.

Instead he sent me to Starbucks.

Surprising, but he told me that the Italian-made Starbucks Barista was one of the best home espresso machines he had seen in awhile. And he was right. I've had it for over five years now, and unless someone invents a machine that magically produces bacon at the touch of a button, the Barista will always be my favorite appliance. When 4pm rolls around you won't find me anywhere else except in my kitchen brewing a cappuccino. And maybe chowing down on a donut.

Oh, and I still love my minivan, too.

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tags: starbucks barista | coffee

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Cozi Central Will Make A Calendar Girl Out Of Me.

First of all, what's not to like about a program that let's you do this:

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A toll-free number that you can call to get your grocery list, with your husband's mocking additions, read to you over the phone. Just one of the features of Cozi Central, a free, downloadable and web-based program consisting of a calendar, shopping list, message center and an amazingly effective cell phone interface that are meant to centralize the complex schedules of the modern family. In other words, I believe it can actually help me to remember to pick up the kids at guitar lessons and remind me to stock up on coffee filters. Why, it's like having a wife!

(We're a Mac family, so my experience is based on using on the web version of the program. The program is available to PC users as a software download.)

I was working on my new site this weekend, trying to get it up and running for my first review for the Parent Bloggers Network scheduled for Tuesday, April 24. So imagine my surprise when I re-read one of the scheduling notices they've sent me and realized it was actually due Monday, April 23. Next time, I'm going to pay attention, read all of their emails out loud and even try not to move my lips.

I can't help but think that this could have been avoided if I had remembered to mark the deadline on my Cozi Central online calendar, one of the main features of the program. After logging on you can post your family's appointments and events to the calendar which is color-coded for each family member. Each registered user can then log on from any computer, see what is on the schedule and then add events of their own if they'd like. If your kids are smart-asses like mine, expect to see things added like, "Disneyland" no less than twelve times in the next month and the appearance of "Mall" on almost every weekday after school. Also beware of the husband who may try and make birthday parties and any visits from your mother mysteriously disappear.

The shopping list is hands down my favorite part of the program, and the one feature I think I'll be using the most. I pride myself on my mammoth grocery lists, writing down everything I can think of that my family will need for the week. It's the cavewoman in me, except instead of going out and hunting or gathering food I drive to the store in my gas-guzzling minivan and bring everything home in plastic bags. My lists are invaluable on these excursions, but the only problem is I frequently forget them on the kitchen counter. Or I can't read my messy handwriting and end up buying three cans of Raid instead of a head of lettuce. On Cozi you can type out everything you need, categorizing them into grocery, wholesale and 'other', and then either print it out or send it as a text message to your phone. Or, the most brilliant part, as I've already demonstrated - you can call the toll-free number and have your list read to you.

As I mentioned I'm using Cozi on a Mac and can only utilize the web version. From what I've read the downloadable version provides the user with many more options when using the program, like more shopping list features and screen savers. I found the single calendar view on the web version limiting, but multiple calendar views are available on the PC version. Also, I found the online version slow in loading at times, and this can become frustrating when just trying to switch over from one page to the next. But it was intermittent, and not enough to keep me from using the program, or from amusing myself by writing down things like "cheese cheese who doesn't like cheese" on my grocery list and then listening to it over the phone.

I highly recommend giving Cozi Central a try. It's free, and takes only a few minutes to set up. I'm thinking it may be the first step in getting my family organized, and I like the fact that it gets everyone involved in the scheduling process. And with Mother's Day coming up the whole family will be able to see my entry for May 13, "Mother's Day - mom sleeping until noon."

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tags: Cozi Central

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