The first time I watched the movie FOOD INC was over 2 years ago. It was a life changing moment. I always had been health conscious, researched foods and the benefits of good foods but I didn't educate myself fully on all the toxins hidden in the foods we eat.  After seeing how our food system has changed since the late 80’s because of Monsanto it made me realize that we are slowly killing ourselves without recognizing that we are doing anything wrong.

Monsanto created this great little gene...

 Cooking with little ones it can be an overwhelming for you and your child. If you are a bit apprehensive to try something like this at home, join me for a SUMMER FUN Cooking Class on June 1, 2013 at The Walden School. We will be cooking up fun foods that incorporate the garden and making a fun craft throughout. For more information and to reserve your spot please go to ----à http://bit.ly/15RijwH

When you get a child in the kitchen they feel "ownership" in the meal they created and are...

Everyone is trying to become more eco-friendly by purchasing earth friendly cleaning products. We are forgetting about one product that we normally use for baking that works wonders on stains, cleaning toys, silverware, countertops, produce, sponges etc.. plus deodorizing refrigerators, gym bags, closets, shoes – the list could go on and on.

Baking Soda is also known as Sodium bicarbonate. It is a chemical compound and its solid white that is crystalline but appears as a fine powder. It�...

Slow Cooker Cajun Stew is a perfect weeknight meal or bring it as a potluck dish to a party. The base recipe calls for the main ingredients - carrots, celery, onions but you can mix it up - add mushrooms, peppers, zucchini or whatever you have on hand. 

So the next time you need meal plan inspiration or a dish to pass for a potluck with friends try out this super easy slow cooker Cajun Stew. 

Slow Cooker Cajun Stew

Ingredients

1 lb of turkey kielbasa sliced ½ inch thick

1 medium onion sliced in...

I will not spend this weekend with my sons. I am traveling to Florida to be with my mom for Mothers Day. One thing I’ve learned over the last year after finding out my mom has stage 4 lung cancer is that quality time matters….A LOT!

This is also the first Mothers Day that I am really sad that I will not be with my boys for Mothers Day. Say what you want about that statement. My boys are 5 and 7 years old which means for a very long time I’ve been changing dirty diapers, wiping butts...

Anyone that knows me online and IRL knows that that I don’t feed my kids McDonalds. Not to say they have NEVER eaten there but as a family we try VERY hard to keep our choices as healthy as possible about 99% of the time.

I feel everyone is able to make their own decisions to either eat healthy or not but when fast food companies like McDonalds start marketing directly to children I have a major problem with it. Children are so impressionable. When you throw Ronald McDonald and other chara...

Recently I was given the opportunity to review a new skin care line called Citrus Clear. This all natural holistic skincare line is designed to meet the needs of teenagers and adults looking for more sensitive cleansers and also to help remove acne. The Citrus Clear skincare line is made for all skin types and only uses the most potent citrus juices, extracts, tinctures and peels to help fight and keep away acne.

I have to say I have pretty good skin, and never really experienced major acne...

It’s another FUN FRIDAY! Finger Knitting is something you can do at any point during the year. It promotes creativity, self confidence and giving to others. What interesting and creative activities do you have to keep kids busy without placing them in front of the TV or video game? Link Up (or comment with) your activities so we can become inspired by you to get creative with our kids. Remember we are only young once! 

 

 One day as I was walking around The Walden School I started to noticed ...

Global Mom Relay connects moms everywhere through the power of Social Media to help women and children.  As we all know, mothers are the most positive change for women and children in today’s world. Global Mom Relay brings mothers together to share advice, stories and inspiration about motherhood. This virtual relay’s goal is to improve the lives of women and children around the globe.

Global Mom Relay was created by UN Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, Baby Center, The Huffington Post an...

On April 22, 2013 we will celebrate the 43rd Earth Day.  The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 which began the movement of individuals and groups expressing their interest and concern for living in a healthy and sustainable environment. We now celebrate Earth Day around the world. It has made adults, teens and children more mindful of their habits and of how even the smallest things can make a difference.

Still unsure of how you can make simple changes that will make a impact? Here are...

Traveling can be challenging when you have a baby especially when you want to give them the best possible foods out there. Traveling can be tricky because foods that you normally give your child may not fare well on the road or can’t be taken on a plane. I hope these ideas inspire you to continue those healthy eating habits while not at home.

The first thing you need to before travel begins is make a meal plan for your baby. When doing this it saves you time, money and is much less stressf...

When you step back and think about all the things you consume on a daily basis you might surprise yourself. As a society we are more materialistic than ever….thinking we “need” something when in reality it’s only just a “want”. As a family we try to live a green lifestyle as much as we can with consuming materials that are good for the environment and our bodies. When doing so we are showing companies that we have high expectations of what goes into our bodies and the environme...

After 6 months of age your baby can digest real grains. This means you don’t need to purchase baby cereal which saves you tons of money and allows your child at a young age to truly experience eating REAL FOODS.

As a parent you know when your child is ready to take on solids because they are staring, cooing, or screaming because they see you eating something that looks really yummy to them. Whether you make your own baby food or choose to do the Baby Lead Weaning method it’s important f...

I met Devi the Director of Shot@Life last year at Type A Parent Blogging Conference. Devi was joined by Advocates and Champions trying to spread the word about Shot@Life .  I believe their mission that weekend was to not only try to educate others about their cause but to empower bloggers to use their voices for Social and Global Good.

When starting O’Boy! Organic in late 2009 I did it because I wanted to educate others about how processed foods and GMO’s are causing great damage to our...

With the flu season in full swing we want to keep our family as healthy as possible so we want to give our children a little extra boost to build their immune system up and get extra nutrition in their body especially if they don’t eat as healthy as we would like.

A reader recently asked me advice on children’s vitamins. After I gave her my recommendations I got thinking about how most parents pick vitamins for their children. We head to the grocery store and check out the different ...

Monday: Meatless Monday meal – Eggplant Rollantini which can be prepared the morning of or even the day before and just placed into the oven when it’s time to cook. (Recipe coming soon) 

Tuesdays: Tuesdays are a busy day for us since I teach full day. I think Soup and Sandwiches are one of the easiest things to cook on busy nights so we will have Homemade Tomato Soup and Turkey Club Sandwiches for dinner.

Wednesday: Vegetable Miso Soup with added Shrimp served with a salad. This is...

 

If you have a child I am sure you are hearing them talk about all the things they want under the tree or see them making lists upon lists for Santa. We need to remember that giving is a two – way street, and this is a great time of year to talk to your children about generosity.

Talking about giving can encourage lifelong generosity in kids. You may not know where to do begin the conversation but just remember to avoid language that makes people in need seem different. Instead focus on h...

My maiden name is Peruski so just by knowing that you can about guess that I've had a pierogi or 2 in my lifetime. When arriving to my grandmother’s house as a child through adulthood you would enter her house to a 7 course meal every time. I think her motto was if you are aren't full and drunk you're not happy. 

Pierogies were a staple in my grandmother’s house and before we would leave at the end of the weekend we would dive into the freezer and grab a few dozen to keep us satisfied un...

I recently had a Cooking Birthday Party for a 7 year old girl and the theme was "Duckling Wants A Cookie" so of course we made cookies. These were a huge hit with the kids and parents. I loved when I told the parents the ingredients they were shocked of how good they were....see healthy or healthier foods can still be tasty! 

Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

·         1 cup whole wheat pastry flour

·         ½ cup white flour

·         2 cups oats

·         1 tsp baki...

Early this fall I was given Rose Romano’s Gourmet Pepper Sauces to review. Rose Romano is a company local to the Philadelphia area I was thrilled to not only try something that was naturally made but also made locally. It’s not certified organic but that doesn’t surprise me because with small start up companies it’s hard to come up with that amazing amounts of cash it takes to become certified organic, but I can say the proof is in the ingredient list (which by the way my 2^nd grade...

We are excited to see War Horse on stage at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. If you haven’t seen the movie, here is a bit about this amazing tale. War Horse is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship. In England 1914 as World War One begins, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped from England to France. He is soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone. But A...

I have two creative loving boys that have a love and hate relationship with books. They love books when I am reading them but when asked to read for them, it was like pulling teeth at times. To make reading fun for them creating a Kids Book Club was a way to make reading fun and also helped us keep the conversation flowing between parents and kids.

My inspiration to create a book club was from seeing the reading process at their school. The reading program at The Walden School was devel...

This weekend in the Philadelphia area, Main Line Parent is hosting an amazing event. Main Line Parent is offering parents an opportunity see firsthand what private and independent schools have to offer at the Main Line Private and Independent School Expo.

As a mother of two school age children, the hardest decision I ever had to make was choosing the right school or my boys. If you are thinking about sending your child to a private school, then you need to attend this event. The MLP Expo wi...

 I am on a huge soup kick at the moment. It's easy and I can make enough for a few meals. You can serve soup as a main meal or with a salad or sandwich. I've just dug up massive amounts of potatoes from my garden recently and thought what a great way to use them - make Potato Leek Soup. 
 

  Ingredients
 

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

3 pounds leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced

1 medium onion diced

4 garlic cloves diced

2 slices of turkey...

It seems like daily we are hearing about problems with the food we as Americans are consuming. Did you know that now we can serve a little Arsenic with our rice and it’s OK? What’s next? This is why I feel so strongly about Non GMO’s and Prop 37. Scientists have been aware for years that rice is a major source of dietary arsenic, but the Consumer Reports is leveraging a new study, which found arsenic in a wide range of rice products, to urge the Food and Drug Administration to set limi...

 

Acorn squash can be prepared in so many different ways. It can roasted, pureed, steamed or baked and used for a main dish or seasonal side. Winter squash is a veget...

What is GMO?

GMO is a genetically modified organism and is the result of a lab process of taking genes from one species and inserting them into another in an attempt to get a desired trait or characteristic. In many cases GMO seeds are both a poison and a food. GMO seeds are altered so they become a pesticide.

How can this be?

The FDA allowed GMO’s into the food supply in the early 1990’s without independent testing based what peop...

Basic Ris...

First we discovered that with a little ...

 

When I was in NYC for my 40^th birthday, I had the most amazing pancakes at Sarabeth’s on the Upper West Side. I was in love once I took my first bite and have been thinking about those ever since. I decided to try my hand at making my own Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. I found a recipe at Williams and Sonoma but wanted to make it a bit healthier…here is my version.

Ingredients:

·         1 cup ricotta cheese

·         1 cup  raw milk

·         3 farm fresh eggs, separated

·         1...

It’s that time of year when ants seems to creep out of their hiding places and start showing up in kitchens. We haven’t really had a problem in the past but for some reason this year those little suckers decided to make our lives miserable. One of the things I cannot stand is going into my clean kitchen and seeing ants, it makes me sick.

We are not fans of using traditional toxic chemicals to kills ants or any other bug that happens to creep into the house. So I went to my friend googl...

In recent months we have had a few friends either become parents for the first time or will be first time parents very shortly. Women always get together and talk about what to expect; those sleepless nights, feedings, all the new baby gear, to sleep in the same room or not, the list could go on and on. In my experience no one ever talks about what the “new” father should expect or is do I hear seasoned dads giving any advice to the newbie’s out there.

With all these new babies b...

One way that you can keep your sanity during mealtime is to make one base meal and tweak it a bit to suit your littlest family members. For example, you've been craving grilled Salm...

It seems that every holiday revolves around candy and sweet desserts. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good dessert but I think we can cut out all those preservatives and processed sugars and get back to basics. When you take a bite of these Carrot Cake Cupcakes you will not miss all that processed junk because you will savor every single bite. This is also a PERFECT way to get your kids in the kitchen and have them help you prepare this yummy Spring dessert. You can even make these ahead o...

Well I made it through week 1 with flying colors! As most of you know my husband and I had a date night on Friday. Went to a great Mexican Restaurant and then off to Hair the Musical. I thought for sure I would be tempted a little, maybe take a sip of a margarita or even have a margarita...Nope didn't touch it. Then Saturday we had family over and I thought maybe one glass of wine but when the time came I just chose to say no.

This cleanse is reminding me of when I was pregnant and I coul...

I am on my fifth day of the Whole Living Cleanse. I have to say it’s not as bad as I thought; one of the reasons being is that I am eating REAL foods and not taking some wacky pills or eating some crazy diet. The foods I can eat are very restricted right now but I think it’s a good thing…my body needed a good cleaning out. The experts say that everyone should do some sort of cleanse for 3-4 days a few times a year so that their di...

The holidays can be the best time and also the worst time of the year. I don’t know about you, but buying gifts stress me out. Now that we have a house, both working and children in school, we have a TON of people to buy for and that doesn’t even include our family members. 

When we start making our gift giving list and I continue to see it grow, I instantly think…SHIT! I have no idea what to get the kid’s teachers, mail carrier, close neighbor friends, co-workers and worst of all ...

One of the things I love most about eggs is that they are so versatile. I can enjoy an egg for breakfast, lunch or dinner. One of my favorite dishes to make when I am on my own is a version of Barefoot Contessa's Herbed Baked Eggs from her Barefoot in Paris Cookbook. It's easy, and good enough for one or you can make them for a crowd on a Sunday for Brunch.

Herbed Baked Eggs for One

Ingredients

• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
  
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated Parmes...

I missed doing a menu plan last week, and I was really on a roll! Even though a a bit late...I did make it for this week. We started something new in our family...Karate Classes for my oldest so that means yet another thing to juggle into our ever growing weekly schedule. So I had to think carefully of my time this week so that we could eat as a family and still keep on track. I'll let you know next week how we did...wish us luck!

Monday: Breakfast For Dinner! My husband wanted to make chi...

In this economy we are always looking at ways that we can save money at the grocery store without depriving our family of good nutritious foods. One way that I save money is by following the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 rules.

We want to buy in season local organic produce whenever possible but yes it can be much more expensive. I know many of us worry about pesticide exposure but the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks. I use the  EWG's Shopper's Guide ...

As I was thinking of my menu plan for this week I took a peek at Keeper of the Home to see what she was up to this week. I loved all the tips she gave for busy moms. It's hard to think of new and exciting dishes to serve weekly that the WHOLE family will like. At times (like this week) I am racking my brain to think of meals that I can make this week. After reading Keeper of the Home's suggestions the creative juices started to flow, well I can't say that I was all that creative with my men...

WOW! I can honestly say I am pretty proud of myself that I've been able to keep this challenge up for the last 5 weeks. As my days are now busier than ever I feel good that I've been able to keep this up and post every Monday! As I speak to friends we always seem to have the same issue...what do I make and how can I make my life easier. These menu plans have helped me "think outside of the box" and plan new recipes for my family and keeps me on track. Keeper of the Home links up every Mon...

I can't believe I never thought of this before, but thanks to West Philly Mama my mind is FULL of ideas!!! Recently I made Applesauce with the children at The Walden School. When the finished product was done each child got to take a container home with an attached recipe card. Being able to bring that recipe card home is a great way for the children to remember the activity they did with me and also jog their memory of the steps so hopefully they too can do this at home with their parents....

One of my favorite fall smells are apples cooking. Whether I am making an Apple Pie, Apple Crisp or just baking apples with a little cinnamon for applesauce....it all smells delicious and makes our home seem very warm and cozy. Since moving to the Northeast almost 5 years ago, one of my favorite traditions to do with my boys is apple picking. We've gone to many orchards in Pennsylvania and also in West Virginia where they even had a true blue pumpkin patch....I have to say that is VERY ha...

I feel a bit overwhelmed already this week. We just got back from West Virginia late yesterday, and already back at it full force with work and kids in school. I spent a little time cleaning out the fridge and organizing my freezer and noticed that I had more fish and chicken from The Family Cow , which made me happy because it saves me a bit of money this week on groceries.  Like I said in my previous posts, before meal planning I like to dig deep in the fridge, freezer and pantry to see...

Going Apple Picking on Monday gave me the inspiration to make a Fall Dinner for my family. So with a few ingredients I had in my pantry and fridge I came up with a perfect fall weeknight dinner for my family. We also had time to make an Apple Pie for dessert.

When I went to the Martha Stewart Show last month she made what seemed like the easiest and very tasty grainy mustard chicken. Martha used chicken thighs; I had bone in skin on chicken breast so that is what I went with. I also had l...

This is my Third week of participating in the Keeper Of The Home Meal Planning Challenge, please stop by her site to get some amazing recipes from many meal planners! Great way to get new and exciting ideas for your family.

I meant to get this up earlier today but with the kids off from school, I thought I'd take advantage of this great day and spend it by taking them to an Apple Orchard. Since I've started teaching, and continuing my duties as Social Media Manager at HAPPYBABY and maintain ...

I am still recovering from Friday night! The 2nd Annual Costume Swap was a great success. The night was filled with eager moms looking for costumes, yummy food, and local businesses showing off their wonderful products and services and women just enjoying a night out.

I'd like to thank all the local business women that came out to support our Swap. Baby Pop Designs is a mom owned business that makes the most adorable cape - mask sets that would make any boy or girl feel like they were ...

Well I have to say I got off to a OK start...we didn't get to all the meals on my menu for last week but that only means I don't have to shop for that much this week. Before I started writing my menu plan for this week I went over to Keeper of the Home and noticed that she had many tips on keeping yourself on a budget when grocery shopping. I am always amazed at the amount of money I spend at the store each week. Some weeks more than others but still I am amazed!! Please head over and check...

As you know I've been trying (again) my hand at Meal Planning. I've always done meal planning but I am not that great at archiving it within my blog. To make me accountable, I've now jumped on the Plan-It Don't Panic Meal Planning Challenge with Keeper of the Home. Not only will I HAVE to make sure my meals are planned and posted on Monday mornings but I will also get some amazing ideas from so many other meal planners out there.

How does the challenge work?

 I will Link Up my blog p...

Got a Picky Eater on your hands? This is one of the best pieces of advice I can give you, and I promise you will see results!

Special thanks goes out to Her Channel, Dad Labs and the MOM 2.0 Conference for giving me great tips and suggestions on video making so I can continue to make helpful videos for parents.

Well I have to say that the first week of my Menu Planning went well for the first half of the week then Irene made other plans for us. So there were a few meals that I never got to, that I will make for this week. At least I will be saving on my groceries, right?

Monday:  Stuffed Peppers with Turkey Sausage - I have all the ingredients since it was suppose to be on the menu for last week.

Tuesday: When I saw this recipe on Musings of a Houswife I knew I had to try it out - Shaved Ch...

We live in a society where material things mean more than being happy, fulfilled and having self respect. I am constantly amazed by how children have changed throughout the years, everything needs to be done right now, always needs to be entertained, nothing is ever good enough, not respecting their belongings and ours, not respecting adults and most of all not respecting themselves.

My husband and I try to lead by example, teach our boys to first respect themselves and then others. Just ...

With school starting in about 2 weeks, teaching part time at The Walden School, running O'Boy! Organic and continuing as the Social Media Editor for HAPPYFAMILY my plate is in major overload. I will be passing some of the laundry duties to my husband (wish us luck) and getting a cleaning lady, but I need to seriously to organize my dinner menus to make my life a bit easier and our transition from a flexible schedule to military style schedule!

I've always made dinner menus, in my opinion ...

I few weeks back I was invited to attend a Horizon Organics Farm Tour. Horizon Organic has over 600 farmers throughout the US that are contracted to supply milk for them, and I have one in my own backyard. Barry Byler owns and operates his own farm in Tripoli PA, about an hour in half from Philadelphia.

I have to say when I pulled up to Barry’s farm I really thought I was in the wrong place. I am not sure what I was expecting but what I saw wasn’t it. I guess I thought I’d see a big...

Recently my friend came over and gave me 2 jars of homemade strawberry jam that she and her kids made. Once I saw them it brought back fond memories of my summers living in Michigan. Every summer during the berry season I would get to taste the most amazing jams made by my aunts and cousins. Canning was just something they did, whether it was jams, pickles, tomatoes you name it they did it.

One of the main reasons I wanted to start my own garden was to use my crops throughout the year by ...

I know I may be a little late with this post but better late than never right? When planting my garden I do about 1/2 plants and 1/2 seeds. I've started some seeds directly outdoors about a month ago; lettuce, spinach, carrots, beans and radishes. I also started seeds indoors; yellow grape tomatoes, heirloom zucchini, long hot peppers, and melons.

I have to say I find it much easier to start from seed when I am planting directly into the ground, planting indoors doesn't give me much luck...

My sons...looking at one another for the first time!

A friend sent me this story, unsure if it's fiction or someone's real story but it's a story that I feel all mother's share. Whether you have given birth to daughters or sons, you are now a person not living for yourself but  living for someone else.

I never understood what my mother was feeling all those nights when she couldn't fall asleep until I was home, asking question after question, telling me no when I wanted her to say yes....I a...

My family is venturing into uninhabited waters, we have decided to start eating ham again. If you didn't know we are a poultry and fish eating family. I personally haven't eaten pork or beef since I was about 18 years old. I was a fish-etarian until I got pregnant with our first child and needed to get more iron in my diet so I chose to start getting poultry again.  When I met my husband 13 years ago, he wasn't eating pork or beef either so naturally we kept that way of living.

Recently we we...

I am pleased to announce that O'Boy! Organic will be one of  many amazing eco-friendly companies joining the Elmwood Zoo in their Conservation Celebration.

Today has been one of those days, there was no school because of the weather, yesterday was a holiday so therefore NO SCHOOL and my oldest has been sick with strep throat so I've had children indoors for DAYS and I really needed a break. Am I alone here? I am sure we all have days that we just NEED A BREAK! 

So I was given Choffy, a new product to me but you may have heard of it. I was waiting until the right moment to try it out. Yes, I was being selfish and wanted it all to myself. Thi...