Dear Stephanie: Should I get the Stroll-Air My Duo or the Bumbleride Indie Twin?

I've reviewed two double strollers with the help of my twins here on And Twins make 5!, the Stroll-Air My Duo Stroller and the Bumbleride Indie Twin.  Both posts get daily visits from Moms and Dads seeking reviews to help them on their quest for the perfect double stroller.

I can completely relate, as I spent hours and hours reading blogs myself with "double stroller" on the brain when I was pregnant with my twins.  Many of these parents email me with additional questions I do my best to answer.  With these questions landing in my box at least twice a month, I thought it best I try to compile all your questions into one post on the subject.

The most asked question is "Which of these two double strollers is better?"

Gamewright Games

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

In my opinion, small games work wonderfully well as stocking stuffers and Gamewright has brought a couple new releases to my attention. 

The first game is a 2-6 player strategy card game for the age 8+ crowd that is called Dweebies.  Our family found it easy to both play & learn.  We also found it could turn highly competitive after a few rounds. 

Contest Winners:

The 30 Hershey's New Drops Candy Giveaway Winners are:

# 7, 11, 18, 23, 25, 30, 37, 39, 45, 52, 54, 58, 64, 65, 70, 75, 78, 87, 90, 94, 102, 105, 108, 109, 113, 120, 123, 125, 128, & 131

The Maukilo.com $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway Winner is:  #188

The Firefly Toothbrushes Giveaway Winner is: #18

The Lazzari Casa Toy House Storage Bin

You, your family, and your friends have shopped for your little ones and soon enough, they'll be unwrapping the whole lot of new treasures.  Your child will be proud owner of a collection of new toys certain to entertain & thrill, but where will you store the sum of them?

The Mystery of the Vanishing TV Remotes

Sadly, it has been said that the TV remotes are golden in our home.  The possessor holds the mighty power of choice (or at least they think they do).  Over the years power struggles have ensued over who gets it.  Breakfast time brings a narrow window of TV watching that all who dwell here crave as their own.  The oldest two boys want sports center.  My daughter, she longs for some teen / tween silliness.  Our toddler twins want Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, or some other Disney Junior program.

eeBoo items: Perfect for Stocking Stuffers!

You've likely been busy shopping over the long weekend with Black Friday sales and today's Cyber Monday sales helping prompt you forward.  I personally finished the bulk of my shopping minus a gift for hubby, one more item for my teen son, and the gathering of the all important stocking stuffers.

"I Am Here" Neighborhood Custom Car Play Mat

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

I'm going to warn you right off the bat, you need to order this Play Mat from neededwanted.com before December 13th to insure holiday delivery.  Why?  Because if you have any little ones that like to play with cars or little action people, they will love this car mat /map just as much as we do.

The "I Am Here" play mats are custom made to allow your child to drive their pretend cars or walk their pretend people through their very own neighborhood streets.  You simply choose from 3 sizes (Small - 3 ft by 1 1/2 ft, Medium - 4 ft by 2 1/2 ft, or Large - 6 ft by 2 1/2 ft) and provide your address for customizing.

Next, they will then send you a "proof" showing exactly how the map will be professionally printed.  Once approved by you, your one of kind play mat is printed on your choice of 10 oz. or 15 oz. vinyl, rolled up, and shipped off to your home.

I received the small 10 oz. mat for purposes of this review and in case you couldn't already tell, I was really impressed with how it turned out.  The small one would be perfect for stuffing in a Christmas stocking along with a few new cars.

What a fun way to teach your children about where they live and how to get around.  Now we can drive right down our street and over to the school our siblings attend.

Receive 10% off your first order at neededwanted.com by using the coupon code "andtwinsmake5".

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Visit the complete "And Twins make 5!" 2010 Holiday Gift Guide to find additional gift ideas on top of some exciting giveaways and promotional codes.

Superstructs Custom Sets {Review + Giveaway}

For purposes of this review, I recently had the chance to order a Custom Superstructs Kit from WABA Fun LLC.  The new custom kit option allows the gift giver to combine sets and personalize the box cover for the receiver.

Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake

While I was at the Kraft Foods Delicious Byte Blogger Brunch at the beginning of November they served a Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake that I thought would be the perfect recipe to share.  It requires very little prep work so I thought it would work great for all that holiday entertaining and gathering we all will likely be doing.  I plan to make this one myself while on our ski vacation in Colorado.  I also plan to make several varieties of the cookie balls I previously shared.

Let me know if you see anything else on the menu that you'd like me to share the recipe for as Kraft provided me with them all.  In the meantime, here's the Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pudding Cake.

Tea Collection: Clothing for Boys & Girls

A few weeks ago I had the chance to shop the Tea Collection for children's apparel for my kids.  I took the opportunity to choose some apparel that could be worn several times over the course of the entire holiday season.

Eco Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas

Have you considered minimizing or skipping the wrapping paper this year?  Here's some suggestions that I put together that might be of help to you.

lia sophia jewelry

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

As a mommy who stays and works at home, I keep my wardrobe fairly basic relying on some fun jewelry pieces to spice things up and add a bit of trendy.

Alladin Cups

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

Whether you give a set of six, a pair of two, or a single cup; the Aladdin 16 oz. To-Go Tumblers with included screw top lid and straw have a terrific design the receiver is certain to love.  I love how this cup has all the basic requirements including being BPA free and dishwasher safe.  However it goes beyond that with it's helpful lid and straw.  How perfect are these for bringing into the family room for movie night or even finishing your drink in the car?

Giveaway Announcements:

Bring on Thanksgiving: My Pies are Baked

Meet this evenings baked creations; Mr. Pumpkin Pie and his two friends, Apple and Blueberry.  My contribution for Thanksgiving dinner are always the dessert menu.  I'll sleep good tonight knowing the majority of my work for tomorrow is already done.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Original Christmas Classics Blu-Ray DVD Collection

These days it seems like Christmas specials are popping up all over, but few can compete with the iconic special, which first debuted in 1970, the always classic "Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town".  I was born in 1970 myself, so it's been a rich part of Christmas tradition for me since day one.

Trudeau Items for the Wine Lovers & Foodies

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

Below you'll find a few of my favorite holiday gift ideas sent to me by the Trudeau Corporation this fall.  You'll also note I've suggest items to pair the gadget with to give the gift more "wow" factor.

Yummy Monkey Bread

Here's another recipe I picked up at the Kraft Delicious Byte Blogger Event a few weeks back.  I didn't make this one personally, but I sampled it and thought it was every bit as yummy as the title suggests.  I thought this might come in handy if you have visitors coming for the holidays.

Holiday TV Programming:

Olivia Talks Turkey Special:
Airing Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25th) and throughout the week.
Visit www.facebook.com/OLIVIATV to learn more about Olivia.

The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation:
Sunday, November 28th at 8/7c!
This Christmas, George and Belinda take their family along with their dog Zeus (voice of Mario Lopez) to a beautiful Rocky mountain ski resort. When they arrive they are surprised to see Belinda’s Brother Randy with his son and snooty poodle Bella (voice of Paris Hilton). George and Randy have never been able to get along and are forced to spend Christmas together under the same roof.  As the families collide Zeus tries to impress Bella while dealing with his arch enemies Ted (Dean Cain) and Stewey (Joey “Coco” Diaz) who were just released from jail.  Ted and Stewey are back into their old ways and causing trouble when they steal a diamond necklace and hide it in a gift shop. The next day when they go to retrieve their necklace they see the Bannisters mistake it as a dog collar and buy it for Bella.  As the Bannisters go on with their vacation Ted and Stewey are close behind and it’s up to Zeus to protect his family and new love interest Bella.  Visit this website for more info on The Dog Who Save Christmas.

ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas Countdown:
Click here to download the full schedule of movies officially beginning 12/1.

Holiday Mondays on Playhouse Disney:
Monday 12/5, 12/13, 12/20, & 12/27 from 6 am -12:30 pm central time
New and previously seen Holiday themed program featuring Agent Oso, Timmy Time, Mickey Mouse, Handy Manny, & More.  See their website for the movie line-ups.

At what age do kids get easier?

As a Mommy of 5 with a wide span of ages between my kids, I frequently get asked "at what age did your kids get easier" and the ever popular "what stage is the hardest"?  I think twin moms ask me this the most.

I don't know if it's just wishful thinking or a well told lie they would love to believe, but they are often greatly disappointed to hear that my 16 year old is just as hard to "mom" as my twin toddlers.

It never ever ever gets easier.  Not even slightly.  It evolves and changes over the years, but easier it is not.

Onmii Jewelry Organizer

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

I started dating my husband (of almost 20 years) a couple weeks before Christmas.  For that first Christmas, he kept it simple and gave me a box of chocolates.  An excellent call for someone you just met, who doesn't love chocolate?

The following year he gave me a little jewelry box.  Another can't miss item with me.  I loved it and the whole sentiment behind it.  It was going to be so much fun to see what treasures and baubles he would help me collect inside it over the years to come.

Petz Fantasy DS Game: Moonlight Magic

Below please find a review of Ubisoft's Petz Fantasy DS Game: Moonlight Magic.  It was written by my 9 year old daughter, Cordelia:

I was really happy to play this game because I want my own pet and my mom said no.  I'd like to have a kitten, rabbit, horse, or fish.  The Petz Fantasy DS Game lets you have a magical creature for a pet. I would like that too.  To get a pet, you just go to the fantasy world where you find eggs that you hatch.  I like seeing them hatch.  When they hatch you feed them the foods they like.  My pet was a picky eater like my mom says I am.  You also play games with your pet, clean your pet, dress your pet, and train your pet.

Star Wars Millennium Falcon Book: A 3-D Owner’s Guide {Giveaway}

If you have a Star Wars fan on your Christmas list, you'll want to check out the Star Wars Millennium Falcon 3-D Owner’s Guide Book.  I was amazed at how detailed a book about a fictitious spacecraft could really be.  The book has colorful detailed images and it's even constructed of sturdy board book materials.

Giveaway Updates

The Winner of The Real Tooth Fairies Giveaway is #20 Ginny!
The Winner of the Nielsen-Massey Extracts Giveaway is #54 Bakersdozen!

Bialetti Aeternum Cookware

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

I'll likely sound like an infomercial, but I am going to say it anyway.  The Bialetti Aeternum line of cookware have become my "go to" cooking pans.

Their modern look compliments my kitchen and the eco friendly cooking technology utilized in the making of this line.  The Aeternum cookware line is free of PFOA, PTFE and Cadmium.

Amy Michelle Poppy Diaper Clutch

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

'Tis the season for family gatherings, cocktail parties, school pageants, office celebrations, and other holiday festivities.  Time for Mommy to switch her uniform bulky diaper bag for a stylish yet still practical Diaper Clutch by Amy Michelle.

I can not help but smile when I reach for my green faux patent Amy Michelle Poppy Diaper Clutch.  It's such a fabulous break from some of the utilitarian style diaper bags I sport.  At 9.5"L x 13"W it is still big enough to fit the included washable (20"x14") changing pad as well as a couple diapers, wipes, my wallet, cell phone, & a lip gloss or two.  Plus the wrist strap attaches to a stroller.  If gren's not your thing, other color options include black faux patent with rich red lining and eggplant faux patent with champagne lining.

Go right ahead and leave your computer browser open to this review as a HINT HINT to your hubby!  You can even leave the color you want him to buy in a comment below.

* Much thanks to Amy Michelle for providing us with this bag for our review.

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Visit the complete "And Twins make 5!" 2010 Holiday Gift Guide to find additional gift ideas on top of some exciting giveaways and promotional codes.

Ready for More Cookie Ball Recipes?

The first three cookie ball recipes I shared (Cool Mint Oreo Cookie Balls, Nutter Butter Banana Cookie Balls, & Teddy Grahams Cinnamon Cookie Balls) seem to have been a resounding hit with all of our readers!  How could they not be, they are easy to do and taste yummy.  What's not to love about a no bake recipe you can make with the kids?

Ready for more?  Here's some additional Kraft cookie ball recipes along with some other helpful tips on making them. 

Giveaway News:

The winner of the Guidecraft Wooden Doll Bunkbed is #48 Kristi.B.
The winner of the Method Antibac Giveaway is #11 GabbyLowe.

Other giveaways still going on include:

Picture Perfect Gift for the Athlete at ProSportsLook.com

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

Like any doting mommy, I have all these great photos of my kids playing the sports they love.  However, until recently I had yet to do much with them aside from sharing them on Facebook.  A company by the name of Pro Sports Look has helped me turn my photo treasures into custom sports art.

The Search for Santa Paws on Blu-ray & DVD 11/23 {Giveaway}

This Tuesday, November 23rd, Disney's The Search for Santa Paws arrives on DVD and Blu-ray in stores near you.  We received an advanced copy of this movie from Disney for review and the whole family really has enjoyed it.  My daughter even brought it to a friend's house last weekend to watch again for her 4th time.  Her favorite discovery was "Sing Along Mode" found in the bonus features.

Cookie Ball Recipes (from Kraft Foods Delicious Byte Event)

Readers may recall I recently attended a Delicious Byte Blogger Event hosted by Kraft Foods a couple weeks back.  We discussed a wide range of food related topics, checked out some coming soon products, did a little cooking, and a lot of eating.  

I discovered I'd clearly had missed a current food trend called “Cake Balls".  The folks at Kraft (as well as some fellow bloggers) told me they are a recent phenomenon that all the moms are making.  I googled them when I returned home and Kraft wasn't kidding.  These "cake ball" things are all over the internet.  

For a easier spin on this trendy treat, Kraft Foods created “Cookie Balls” and I'm officially declaring these awesome!  Other than basic ingredients, all you need is a cookie scoop (or small spoon to create the balls), a spatula, and a few bowls.  Bonus, there's no baking required.  You simply ‘mix, shape, and refrigerate’.  I brought a few of these balls home with me for the kids to try.  They loved them too!  I can't wait to make them with the kids for the holidays. 

Klutz Books: Window Art and Capsters {Giveaway}

My crafty tween daughter, Cordelia, is helping me out again by checking out a couple books provided for review by Klutz, Window Art & Capsters.

Making Semi-Homemade Holiday Stockings

My mommy failure for the past couple winter holidays has been forgetting to purchase and/or make Christmas Holiday Stockings for the twins.  Luckily, the twins were too young to complain in years past.  This year they will be 2 1/2 years old and will certainly notice that their siblings have stockings while they do not.  My goal for last weekend was to tackle the stocking project before the twins tackled me.

The Wikireader

 A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

Our 5 kids spend a fair amount of time being shuffled about from one activity to another.  It's a usual day for one of them to end up bored in the car, waiting at the dance studio, or even trying to kill time in between events at a siblings track meet.  The desire for something small I can entertain them with is a big one.  Handheld gaming systems sometimes can fit the bill, but they require a fair amount of planning.  Grab the system, make sure it's charged, make sure you have games ... A book can work but they eventually finish it and hit boredom again. 

Cleatskins (Sports Shoe Spike Covers)

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

If your not a fan of sports, you wouldn't survive long in our household.  We have a 16 year old son who is on his high school's football, basketball, and track teams.  We also have a 12 year old son who plays flag football, basketball, & runs track as well all for his grad school.  Our 9 year old daughter is a competitive dancer in hip hop and production.

I spend hundreds of dollars each year on the right shoes for each of them.  Football spikes for turf, football spikes for grass, practice basketball shoes, game basketball shoes, track spikes, training shoes, hip hop practice shoes, hip hop competition shoes, .... need I go on.

Tandem Space Hopper From Wild Creations {Giveaway}

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

$29.99 for a toy that averages 30-60 minutes of cooperative play per day, I think the Tandem Space Hopper should be nominated as the play bargain of the century.  Since the arrival of the Tandem Space Hopper back in October, my 5 children have tested every spec of this bouncing toy all finding it to be a total blast.  The package suggests it would be best for the 10+ age range, however we found under adult supervision even our littler ones were able to enjoy it safely.

The X-mini II Capsule Speaker

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

I'd be completely off target if I didn't include a cool music related gadget in the teen /tween section of our holiday guide.  My oldest 3 kids (9, 12, & 16) have made it very clear that everything is a little more "kicky" in their world with the tunes playing.  And since all 3 are very "on the go" sorts, this musical find needed to be ultra portable.

Lalaloopsy Dolls: modern practicality with yesterday's ragdoll charm {Giveaway}

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

(This review first appeared on 10/18/10, but is being republished to include our Holiday Guide Giveaway.) 

What do your kids want from santa?  While it's only October, holiday hot toy lists are suddenly popping up all over.  With that in mind, you may want to snatch up a few of the hot selling items before they become impossible to find.

If you know a little girl in the 2.5 to 8 year old category, you'll want to check out the newly released Lalaloopsy Dolls by MGA Entertainment.  With adorable faces, clothing, and names like Jewel Sparkles, Crumbs Sugar Cookie, & Pillow Featherbed; you'll immediately find yourself struggling to decide on just one.

Clic-It Smart Diaper Bag Review

As a mommy of 5 including my now toddler age twins, I know a thing or two about the need for a well organized diaper bag.  When you have multiple kids in tow, a smartly packed bag makes all the difference when it comes to successful outings.  It's all about routine and having an exact spot for everything.

2010 Holiday Gift Guide

Thank You Readers!  It's been another wonderful year both around the blog and personally.  I appreciate all of you for being a part of it.  Our gift to you is a list of gift ideas along with a collection of giveaways and promotional code.

We will be revealing the guide sections, big giveaways, and promotional codes incrementally, so be sure to bookmark this page so you can check back often.

Chuggington Die-Cast Train Sets Training Yard with Loop {Giveaway}

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!" 

 
What's a Christmas Gift Guide without a train?  Our favorite train for this year is Learning Curve's new Chuggington Die-cast Train line.  In fact, while we were provided the Chuggington Training Yard with Loop for review --shhh! -- I have it on good authority that Santa will be bringing the twins several add-on sets along with extra die-cast engines on Christmas Day.  (They are available exclusively in ToysRUs Stores & on ToysRUs.com, so I just ordered them from the site last week.)

New Disney Releases: The Mickey Mote along with Mickey's Number Roundup, & Handy Manny Big Construction Job Dvds

The New "Mickey Mote" debuts with the Release of Disney's New Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Number Roundup and Handy Manny: Big Construction Job DVDs on November 16th (tomorrow).

The Nutcracker 3D Movie arrives in theaters 11/24

If you are looking for a holiday movie to kick off the season, The Nutcracker 3D is arriving in theaters on November 24th. 

Giveaway Updates & More

No need to leave your comfy chair!  We are giving away Big Toys, Small Toys, Chocolate, Craft Kits, Books, Movies, Cooking Extracts, and  even household cleaners. Don't miss this chance to win a few things that are likely on the Christmas / Holiday Shopping list.

Spiro Bouncer by Hearthsong

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

The Spiro Bouncer by Hearthsong may look a touch like a basic  teeter totter or seesaw at first glance, but it goes well beyond those traditional toys.  This scaled-down version of Hearthsong's Spiro Hop includes added bouncing and spinning action.

Two air filled balls give the spiro bouncer lots of bounce to the toy's up-'n'-down, round-and-round motions, while the seats' extra-soft padding makes the ride nice and comfy.

The Little Tikes Neighborhood Market (Review + Giveaway)

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

This recently released roleplaying item is another instant classic from Little Tikes.  This summer we had a chance to review the Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship.  Fall has brought cooler weather here in Chicago-land so we are temporarily docking our twin pirates and taking them shopping.

The arrival of big boxes with lots of screws always scares me a little, but this Neighborhood Marketplace toy provided by Little Tikes for my review went together with ease thanks to some clear directions and my power screwdriver.  Once together it proved to be quite solid and stable with a handle and wheels to allow for moving it about without a struggle.

P'kolino Book Buggee & Multi-Solution Puzzles

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

We were so impressed by the offerings of P'kolino that we couldn't pick just one item to showcase in our Holiday Gift Guide.  Instead, we have two toys to tell you about.

The first is one of the award winning P'kolino puzzles.  Unlike the average puzzle, these beautifully colored modern wooden puzzles have more then one way to solve them.  This Multi-Solution line allows children to come up with creative alternatives to putting all the pieces in the form.  This creative flexible design entices kids to play with these puzzle longer and more often without possibly boring of the same outcome.  Since arrival for review, my twins had a great time teaming together on solutions as well as taking their own independent turns.

The P'kolino Book Buggee is also an instant hit.  This clever toy allows your child to select books off their shelf, load them on the Book Buggee along with a stuffed friend, and pull the books right over to their bed, a cozy nook, or even a Daddy sitting in his chair.  The twins had no problem immediately incorporating this into their nightly bedtime routine.

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Visit the complete "And Twins make 5!" 2010 Holiday Gift Guide to find additional gift ideas on top of some exciting giveaways and promotional codes.

Perspective on a Bad Day for Mommy

Today was one of those days that very little seemed to go right.  The twins got into the markers and colored the walls.  They also spilled chocolate milk everywhere.  As I cleaned up the puddles of milk and scribbled walls, they managed to knock over a piece of furniture scattering my stuff everywhere.  After cleaning up all my items that fell, I realized that the crashing furniture piece had also apparently torn the phone cord from the wall.  I might also add that I discovered the washer is in need of repair when I went to load it with all the chocolate milk and marker stained towels.  Why didn't I use paper towels?  As luck would have it, we are out.

Yet despite all of that chaos, drama, and frustration I could not declare today a bad day for mommy... at least not this mommy.  This bad day belongs rightfully to another mommy, a mommy who buried her 21 year old solider son.  A mommy who today, rode in a car behind a flower adorned hearse.  My heart goes out to that mommy.

I took myself right outside my door and stood in my chocolate stained t-shirt along my street.  I was a little tired and frustrated from today's events but extremely comfortable in the knowledge that my 4 sons and 1 daughter were all happy, healthy, and safe.  While I stood there, I reminded myself how much that mommy would likely give to just go back to those "spilled milk" and "marker stained wall" kind of days.


Related Links:  Young Soldier Laid to Rest on Veteran's Day

The Learning Tower with Art Easel Attachment

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

Making an appearance on our Holiday Gift Guide this year is the Learning Tower with the added Art Easel Attachment by Little Partners.  It's an item that is clearly for the kids to use but will be equally prized by the adults in the home for it's overall usefulness.

yBike balance bike

A 2010 Holiday Gift Guide Pick from "And Twins make 5!"

A bike for Christmas is one of those classic gifts a child remembers for many years to come.  This year, our Holiday Gift Guide includes a new twist on this old fashioned classic, a balance bike by yBikes.

The future of learning how to ride a bike has arrived and guess what?  This process involves a bike that does not have any petals or training wheels.  These balance style bikes are designed specially for the 2-4 year old crowd.  The yBike puts the main focus of beginner bike riding where it should be; on developing co-ordination, balance, and self confidence.  This is done on the yBike by eliminating the complication of pedaling to move, instead the yBike is solely propelled by your child pushing off with their feet.

Veteran's Day 2010

Today is Veteran's Day here in the United States of America.  A holiday honoring our military veterans.

Two of my children (my 12 & 9 year olds) will mark the day lining the streets as the funeral procession of a 21 year old local soldier, killed in action while serving our country in Afghanistan, passes in route to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

This now deceased soldier, who died far too young, will be in good company.  My grandfather ("Poppops" to us) is also buried there.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all the men & women (past, present, future) who serve our country.

*I should note the photo credit belongs to my cousin.

My visit to Kraft Kitchens

Readers may recall that I was generously invited by Kraft Foods to attend their Delicious Byte Blogger event earlier this week.  Well, I'm back at home still feeling stuffed from both food sampling and an array of notions.

I spent the first evening in Chicago at the Affinia Hotel located in Chicago on the Magnificent Mile.  That night, I met a dozen or so other bloggers (listed here) together with some of the many food impassioned employees of Kraft.  We all dined at the C-House Restaurant home to celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson (Top Chef Masters: Season 2).  Dinner was terrific and I was excited to hear that Chef Marcus is actually in the process of working on some recipes with Kraft.  My evening came to an end with a quick visit to the 29th floor to check out the rooftop lounge C-View with a few fellow bloggers.

The next morning we all piled on to a bus to head to the Kraft Kitchens in Glenview, IL.  Upon arrival we donned aprons and were greeted by the smell of freshly baked Monkey Bread as well as a large contingency of Foodies from Kraft.  It was Kraft Food-a-palooza from there on as we were introduced to some great recipe ideas, new products, healthy dietary options, along with new food trends.  I even picked up some food photography and styling insights that will come in handy in upcoming posts.

Much thanks to Kraft Foods for providing me with this experience on top of ample amounts of future inspiration.  I'm really looking forward to sharing all these yummy recipes and new products with all of you readers in the days and weeks to come.