Quickie Product Review

Let me start by dispensing with the legal mumbo-jumbo. I was in no way paid or compensated in any way,shape or form for this review. These are my own opinions below.
 Recently, DH (who is named Uriah by the way) and I were wanting a quick snack one evening. We weren't in the mood for chips and since he isn't real big on sweets we needed to figure something out.
 That is when he discovered Tyson Any'tizers^®Buffalo Style Boneless Chicken Wyngz and Any'tizers^® Honey BBQ Boneless Chicken Wyngz at a local grocery store in the freezer section. According to the Tyson website these are "Bite-sized chicken portions make them quick and convenient!"
 I will be honest and tell you what they really are-Delicious! 
I love hot wings and the hotter the better. What I don't like is how messy hot wings can be with all that sauce dripping off them.  Any'tizers^®Buffalo Style Boneless Chicken Wyngz are nicely sized pieces of chicken with a breaded coating with  Buffalo sauce flavoring.  These warmed up nicely in the microwave but they were even better baked in the oven. These are spicy so with children you'll want to use your best judgement as far as little ones eating these.
The  Any'tizers^® Honey BBQ Boneless Chicken Wyngz were just as good. Nicely breaded with a sweet honey barbecue coating. These just like the Any'tizers^®Buffalo Style Boneless Chicken Wyngz warmed up nicely in the microwave but they were even better baked in the oven. These would be great for the children to eat at a party. While the grown-ups are enjoying Any'tizers^®Buffalo Style Boneless Chicken Wyngzthe kids could have their little plate of Any'tizers^® Honey BBQ Boneless Chicken Wyngz just for them.
These would be great at any party especially now that the playoffs are here. A good way to serve them would be on a platter with a divided sauce bowl in the center with bleu cheese dressing in one section and ranch dressing in the other.
Until next time... 
 

Business 101-It Ain't What It Used To Be

Today I'm going to do a few mini blogs today. I will be doing my regular posting tonight but I wanted to do a few that cover some different topics that aren't long enough for a regular blog posting.
Suppose you're looking to buy a new product be it a purse or wallet, video game, eyeliner or what not. A lot us will ask friends and family their thoughts about the product,. Some will actually go to a store to physically see and touch one. We might read a product review on-line or in print.Hopefully that review is non-biased and objectively written. That last statement brings me to the point of this mini blog.
I recently decided to contact some companies both local and national to ask how I could review their porducts for my blog. The majority of the companies so far have been wonderful .That was until I got an email from Vera Bradley. It was not rude or mean but just rather discouraging. Below is an actual snip of the email their customer care sent to me:

So, if you work at Vera Bradley and give a product a bad review does that mean you're out of a job? I would hate to think that. I mean that isn't exactly going to boost the morale of their employees.
 I decided to do some research and see if anyone else who was not a Vera Bradley employee had reviewed their product. Guess what there has been! Were these blogger comped for these reviews besides (hopefully) getting to keep their free goodies? Is there a "certain"criteria as far as what bloggers Vera Bradley chooses to associate with? Personally if I was a company and someone offered to review a product of mine I'd tell them, "Sure, we'd be honored". Hello free publicity!! Free publicity is good but free positive publicity is even better. I'm just saying folks...
I'd love to know my readers thoughts on this? Do you think that it is fair for any company not just Vera Bradley to tell one blogger "No we won't work with you"  and tell another" Sure, we'll work with you?'
Until next time...

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Winter

I originally going to post about the Ladies Night that is held every third Thursday of the month at our local Home Depot. However, due to inclement weather they cancelled it. This inspired me to write tonight's post about winter weather safety. Winter safety depends on a few factors. These factors include your age, the weather conditions outside and where you are located. And please do not lay on top of your roof like the guy on the Allstate commercial to see if you'll fall thru. You'd freeze to death before hand or people will think you're super weird.
For those of us with little ones we have a different set of safety concerns than  an elderly  person would. The American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) has some great guidelines for keeping children safe and warm during the cold weather months. I thought I'd highlight a few of them for you.
What to Wear
Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities.  Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Don’t forget warm boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
Blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant’s sleeping environment.  Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers or wearable blankets is preferred. 
If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby’s chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding materials.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to colder temperatures. It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather without wearing proper clothing or when clothes get wet. It can occur more quickly in children than in adults.
    Make sure that your children have a hat and gloves or mittens on when they go out to play. There are so many cute hat and glove sets out there even the most fashionista little girl or tough and rumble little boy can find a set they like. Also sites like Etsy offer cute handmade hat and glove sets if you are looking for something that is "custom-made". If you would like to try your hand at either knitting or crocheting a set I have a few links for free patterns include some cute vintage ones 
http://www.antiquecrochetpatterns.com/crochet-ear-muffs.html
http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/hats.html
http://www.freevintagecrochet.com/mittens.html 
http://www.freevintageknitting.com/hats.html 
http://www.freevintageknitting.com/mittens.html
http://www.vintagepurls.co.nz/kidspatterns.html
As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy.  Speech may become slurred and body If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once. Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.
Frostbite
Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen.  This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears and nose.  They may become pale, gray and blistered. At the same time, the child may complain that his/her skin burns or has become numb.
If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts of her body in warm (not hot) water.  104° Fahrenheit (about the temperature of most hot tubs) is recommended. Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears and lips.
Do not rub the frozen areas.
After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing or blankets. Give him/her something warm to drink like warm tea, warm hot chocolate or warm milk (especially good with nutmeg, a little sugar and vanilla extract).
If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, call your doctor.
Winter Health
If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops or petrolatum may help keep nasal tissues moist. If bleeding is severe or recurrent, consult your pediatrician.
Many pediatricians feel that bathing two or three times a week is enough for an infant’s first year. More frequent baths may dry out the skin, especially during the winter.You can also add a bath product that contain colloldial oatmeal like Aveeno, Nature's Gate and store brands like Walgreens, CVS, Duane Reade etc
Cold weather does not cause colds or flu.  But the viruses that cause colds and flu tend to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other.  Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough into the bend of her elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu.
Children 6 months of age and up should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu
Sun Protection
The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow.  Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen. Zinc oxide is great for covering little noses and if you can find the colored zinc like the surfers use the kids might be more willing to let you apply it.
Fire Protection
Winter is a time when household fires occur. It is a good time to remember to:
Buy and install smoke alarms on every floor of your home
Test smoke alarms monthly
Practice fire drills with your children
Install a carbon monoxide detector outside bedrooms
The elderly also have a special set of need during the winter. They too need help sometimes even more so since a lot more elderly people are living alone . Some tips for helping your elderly friends and family members during the winter:
Winter Safety Tips for the Elderly
Check daily on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors who live alone.Some communities have Senior-In Home Visits (http://www.emeritus.com/in-home-visits) or Elder-Check call-ins. These services check on the elderly and make sure they are okay.Your local area on aging should be able to direct you.
The elderly and very young should stay indoors as much as possible. Offer to shop for elderly friends and relatives. Just like in the summer with heat, it takes some time to get acclimated to cold weather.
Wear layered clothing outdoors for better protection from the cold. Wear a cap to prevent rapid heat loss from an uncovered head. Cover exposed skin to prevent frostbite.
While indoors, try to keep at least one room heated to 70 degrees.This is especially important for
the elderly and small children to prevent hypothermia.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.
Eat high energy foods along with warm beverages and soup.
Sleep warm with extra blankets,a warm cap, socks and layered clothing.
Keep ahead of advancing winter weather by listening to NOAA WeatherRadio.   
To listen live click the link (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/streamaudio.htm)
An ice storm will take down power lines,knocking out electricity. Check battery powered equipment
before the storm arrives.
Check your food and stock an extra supply.If there are infants at home, make sure you have enough infant formula or baby food. Include food that requires no cooking in case of power failure. Make
sure pets and animals have shelter and a water supply.
Check your heating supply.Be careful when using fireplaces, stoves or space heaters. Proper ventilation is essential. Don't use charcoal; it gives off deadly amounts of carbon monoxide. Keep flammable material away from space heaters and do not overload electric circuits.
Dress for the conditions when outdoors. Wear several layers of light-weight,warm clothing; layers can be removed to prevent perspiring and subsequent chill.
Outer garments should be tightly woven, waterproof and hooded. For the hands,mittens, snug at the wrists, offer better protection than fingered gloves
Our vehicles also need special winter care. So here are a few tips to keep your car winter ready:
Car Care Tips for Winter
Check the battery, lights, antifreeze, heater/defroster, belts, hoses, filters, oil, wipers and brakes.
Carry the basics-an ice scraper, a snowbrush, a small shovel, tow chains and jumper cables-in your car.
Also add a winter survival kit with items such  flashlight with extra batteries,battery powered radio, snack food including energy bars, extra hats, socks and mittens etc . (http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/winter/HowToMakeAKit.asp) has a great web page that tell you what else you'll need for winter driving.
Add chains to your tires if necessary.
If for some reason you get stranded do not leave your vehicle and try to walk to safety! If you are able to call 911 and let them know that you are stranded. Some additional tips include:
Stay in your vehicle.
If you have a cell phone, call the police for help, but be careful not to run down your battery if you can't get through.(I know I said it just a few lines ago but I want everyone to be safe)
If you have an emergency kit, use supplies conservatively.
Attach something to your antenna or window, and leave your dome light on at night to alert emergency personnel.(I would recommend a bright colored scarf or cloth in a color like shocking pink or lime green. Something that people can see easily. No white or black)
Check your tailpipe occasionally to make sure it's not blocked with snow. Clean the pipe out if necessary to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Run the heater for about 10 minutes every hour, depending on how much fuel you have. Also keep a space blanket and a few blankets use them to keep warm
Leave a window cracked to let in air, and also to prevent the car from becoming sealed from heavy ice and snow.
Don't sleep if you can help it, especially if the engine is running and you are alone.
Move your arms and legs periodically to keep your circulation going.
Winterizing your home is just as important and here are a few tips to help you do just that:
Winterizing Tips for Homeowners
Clean those gutters. Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home's gutters -- by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse -- so that winter's rain and melting snow can drain..
Block those leaks.One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out,
First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.
Buy door sweeps or draft dodgers to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home's outer walls, where cold air often enters.
Outdoors, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk. For brick areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing
Insulate yourself .Check your attic and see if you have the proper amount of insulation for where you live. Your local home improvement store like Home Dept should be able to help yopu with this.
Check the furnace First, turn your furnace on now, to make sure it's even working, before the coldest weather descends. A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace in the autumn; simply open windows to dissipate it. But if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a professional.(It's a good idea to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually. Costs will often run about $100-$125.)
Get your ducts in a row.According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That's a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly house. (Check out this audit tool for other ideas on how to save on your energy bills this winter.(http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/)
Ducts aren't always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in the attic, the basement and crawlspaces. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape actually doesn't stand up to the job over time).
Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems.
Face your windows. Now, of course, is the time to take down the window screens and put up storm windows, which provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. Storm windows are particularly helpful if you have old, single-pane glass windows.
Budget to replace them a few at a time, and in the meantime, buy a window insulator kit, Basically, the kit is plastic sheeting that's affixed to a window’s interior with double-stick tape.
Don't forget the chimney. Ideally, spring is the time to think about your chimney.Don't put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace, A common myth is that a chimney needs to be swept every year, But a chimney needs at least be inspected before use each year. Bird nests, the occasional oddball item like a tennis ball can cause trouble if not taken care of
Ask for a Level 1 inspection, in which the professional examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney.
Woodstoves are different.They should be swept more than once a year. A general rule of thumb is that a cleaning should be performed for every ¼ inch of creosote, anywhere that it's found. Ash is primarily lye -- the same stuff that was once used to make soap, and it's very acidic. It can cause mortar and the metal damper to rot,. Check out CSIA'S Web site for a list of certified chimney sweeps in your area.(http://www.csia.org/)
Reverse that fan. Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don't often think of.By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. (Here's how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise)
Wrap those pipes. A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before Jack Frost sets his grip: Before freezing nights hit, make certain that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained Next, go looking for other pipes that aren't insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces -- pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you're really worried about a pipe freezing, you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat.
Check those alarms. This is a great time to check the operation -- and change the batteries -- on your home's smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say. Test them -- older ones in particular -- with a small bit of actual smoke, and not just by pressing the "test" button. Check to see that your fire extinguisher is still where it should be, and still works. Also, invest in a carbon-monoxide detector; every home should have at least one.
I hope these tips will help everyone have a safe and enjoyable winter.
Information for this blog posting came from the following sources:
 http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107899
http://www.csia.org/
http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/07/06/27/what-to-do-and-not-do-if-your-car-ever-leaves-you-stranded.htm 

Inspired by...

I thought this evening I would veer off the beaten path anklet you know why I blog. I mean what inspires me to write each day.
When I started Mmommy Musings it was just going to be a place to share random thought and such . I thought that if I got a few people like maybe 4 or 5  I would be doing pretty good.
Fast forward to today and I am blessed to say Mmommy Musings now has 15 followers(and growing), an official Facebook page, an email address and a Twitter account. (I am working on getting pages for Mmommy Musings on sites like MySpace, Tumblr, Linked In, Digg and other sites)
That's great but what inspires you? is what you're asking yourself right now.
 Lots of things inspire me but the main things are my family, my faith, my friends and my readers. A lot of times I will read or hear something and it will inspire me to write.
As a mom of a special needs child, I like to write about things that not only affect our family but also the families of all special needs children and adults.
I love to cook and try new recipes. I like to share great  recipes with people so they too can enjoy then. I also like to let folks know if a recipe is a complete and utter disaster so they can avoid the same mistakes I made.
I also like to write about things my readers are interested in. I am always looking forward to writing about things that interest you my readers.
I hope this gives you a little insight into me.
Until next time...

Chinese "Fake Out'"

There aren't too many people out there who don't enjoy good Chinese take out food. Chinese food is full of bright colorful veggies, meat and wonderful seasonings. Unfortunately not all of us are close enough to  great Chinese take out place. Even if you are close enough to said Chinese restaurant price for an order of Beef Lo-Mein about $9.50 on average. Not exactly cheap eats especially if you want to feed the whole family since those cute little take-out cartons only feed one  person. Let's be honest a lot of times after we eat that cute container of Lo-Mein we're still hungry. This sent me on a quest to create a cheap and kid friendly Lo Mein recipe that is quick, easy and great tasting to boot.
I decided to use thin spaghetti noodles instead of the traditional lo-mein noodle. Thin spaghetti is more easily accessible than actual lo-mein noodle and often times cheaper. Add to this some beef, veggies and sauce you to can replicate Beef Lo-Mein too.

Kid Friendly Beef Lo-Mein
1 1.5 pound beef skirt steak cut into thin strips (if your meat is partially frozen it cuts easier)
1 16 oz bag frozen California Blend Style vegetables
2 cloves garlic minced

8 ounces of thin spaghetti broken in half, cooked and drained

Sauce
1/4 cup beef stock
1/4 cup Teryaki Sauce/Marinade
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons MSG powder (optional- if you don't have it don't worry about it.) 

Oil for frying
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1. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles in it. While the pan heats up combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.  Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Add beef strips and cook until almost done stirring constantly. When meat is almost done add the minced garlic and continue to cook until done.

2.Add frozen vegetables and stir-fry for about 3-4 minutes. Cover with lid and lower heat to medium. Cook for 7-9 minutes or until vegetables are cooked.

3. Add cooked and drained thin spaghetti to meat and vegetable mixture. Add sauce and stir to coat. Cook until heated through.

4.  Serve in bowls with extra teriyaki sauce to pour on if desired.

There you have it. A quick, tasty and kid friendly lo-mein that's easy to make.

Until next time...

Changes Here At Mmommy Musings

I just wanted to let my readers know about some exciting new changes here at Mmommy Musings.
 The first thing is that we now have our own official email address. You can email us directly at mmommymusings@yahoo.com.

Secondly we are live on Twitter. Our Twitter handle is @MmommyMusings.  https://twitter.com/MmommyMusings is our direct page link. Follow us and we will follow you back.

We now have a Facebook page. Our page link is http://www.facebook.com/mmommy.musings. 
Oh I almost forgot to mention this - we now have Google Translate button ! Just click and select your language to read in.
And some really big things for everyone out there from saving on your grocery bills to product reviews to contests and giveaways. Plus other ways to save money. We can't wait to share them with you.
Until next time...

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble ...

Burgers... Thick, juicy burgers on a buttery toasted bun. Like the ones Jimmy Buffett sings about in Cheeseburger in Paradise. Usually if said burger is made with ground turkey let's just say the chances said burger staying whole is pretty slim. Turkey burgers are for some reason more inclined to crumble than beef burgers during cooking. My goal was to create a recipe for moist turkey burgers that wouldn't fall apart during cooking. Besides right now the weather outside isn't exactly what you'd call "tropical" more like "wet and cold with a side of wet and cold"
 I had made turkey burgers before using just ground turkey. No matter what I did they either fell apart or if by some fluke of nature they stayed whole the inside was undercooked-not cool. So when DH brought home some  99% Fat Free Ground Breast of Turkey :
(http://www.honeysucklewhite.com/ProductDetail.aspx?product_category_id=5&product_id=423) I thought "Maybe this might work better than regular ground turkey." I had read that turkey needs a binding agent to help hold it together and prevent the dreaded crumbling. Armed with knowledge I set out make the perfect turkey burger and here's the results. A nice juicy turkey burger that just begs to slapped on a buttered bun to be topped with whatever your little heart desires

The Perfect Turkey Burger
2  1lb 99% Fat Free Ground Breast of Turkey Rolls
1/2 c. unseasoned dried bread crumbs
2 eggs
2 tablespoons Chicken Bullion Powder (I use Knorr brand that I buy from the local Asian supermarket)
Shortening for frying ( I used Butter Flavored Crisco)
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1. In a large bowl mix all the ingredients together by hand. This is a great activity for the kids to do if they want to help with dinner. Set aside. Turn your oven on to the lowest setting- this is so you can keep the burgers that are done while you continue to cook more and also help in the cheese melting process.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat or until a drop of water sizzles. Once the skillet is that hot turn the heat to medium and melt some shortening in it. With wet hand grab a small blob of meat mixture, shape it into a ball and drop into the frying pan. Gently press down on said "meatball" until it's a patty about 1/2" thick. Depending on how big your frying pan is you should be able to get probably two more patties in. Fry for three minutes or until brown on the bottom. When done, flip them and cook another three minutes. After the second three minute cooking , lower the heat to medium low and let them cook covered for a full seven (7) minutes. I know you might be tempted to not do the full time but I don't any of you guys getting sick from eating undercooked turkey, especially my pregnant readers, little ones and anyone else who might be a higher risk for problems. So please cook them the entire seven minutes.

3. After the seven minutes are up, place the burgers on a cookie sheet and slide them into the warm oven. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all your meat mixture is used up. If you want to put cheese on them you can do so now, the warm burgers along with the heat from the oven will help melt the cheese more evenly.

4. For an added treat serve them on butter-toasted buns. To make these, spread softened butter or margarine on the inside of burger buns and toast them until golden in the frying pan you fried the burgers in over medium heat.

Dh was wonderful enough to take photos of said burgers for me along with a few photos of what I served with them. 
 They were a great success and as my kids and husband say  "A definite keeper" for the recipe box. 

Until the next time...