Thursday, March 19, 2009

Mommy'ing It Forward....

I feel blessed to have "met" so many wonderful people through the world of blogging. It's comforting to know that we're all going experiencing similar ups and downs. Someone out there always understands and can relate to what happens in our daily lives.

One of my favorite things to do is search through other blogs to find new recipes I can make for my family. Let's just say that meatloaf, breaded pork chops, and spaghetti and meatballs can only go so far before my kids start retaliating. So each week I've been incorporating at least 1-2 new meals into our dinner rotation and so far, I've been successful (meaning the kids didn't make gagging noises or make faces when I put the plates in front of them AND they asked for seconds). So I wanted to share a few of the blogs where I've found such wonderful recipes....oh, and all these recipes are so easy that the kids were able to help me prepare them (an added bonus because you know kids are more liable to eat what they made themselves)....

Jenna at The Newlyweds always posts such yummy-looking recipes (you just know it's gonna be delicious when you're practically licking your computer screen while looking at the pictures ). Some of her recipes that I've made are Sticky Chicken (a crockpot meal), Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas, and Smothered Chicken and Rice. YUM!!! You can also see many more of her other recipes by clicking on the recipe link at the upper right corner of her blog. I usually make the Sticky Chicken at the beginning of the week and use the leftovers for the enchiladas, as she recommends. You gotta love those 2-for meals.

Amy at The A to Z Twins just posted a recipe for Greek Chicken Pitas with Tomato and Cucumber Salad in her regular Mystery Spice Monday series. I was salivating as I was reading this recipe!! I made it last night for dinner and...oh, it was SOOO good! Even my husband, who is extremely picky, enjoyed it. I can't wait to see what her next Mystery Spice Monday recipe will be!

Reeni at Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice also has some amazing recipes on her blog. One of them is Spaghetti Pie...my kids were fascinated by it because who expects to be serviced a pie made out of spaghetti?! I also made her Taco Lasagna, which the family really loved!

I've been guilty of lagging....I've received a few awards from some wonderful bloggers and I'm just now getting to them. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate the awards....in fact, it totally makes my day to see that someone has thought enough about my blog to pass on an award to me.

Thank you to Ginny Marie at Lemon Drop Pie, Melissa at Saving Cents with Sense, Jacqueline at My Lil Guyz , Aim at Random Thoughts, and The Eadle Family for the "When Life Hands You Lemons" Award (for blogs that show great attitude or gratitude):

I'd like to pass this award on to Hajar at Tales From an American Nomad. She has experienced many highs and lows in her life yet she always has such a positive, upbeat attitude and always sees the good in people. She is a twin mommy also and the love she has for her family shows through in her writing.

Thank you to Michelle at It's All About Potential for the Premio Dardos Award:

The Dardos Award is given for recognition of cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values transmitted in the form of creative and original writing. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web.

I want to pass this award on to Sharlene at Double The Adventure. She is so wonderful about exposing her young twins to the beauty of nature. She and her family travel to various places and she posts pictures that will take your breath away. She was just featured in Travel Savvy Moms....read her article about visiting Las Vegas with kids by clicking here. I have to say that reading about her adventures makes me want to take a hike with my kids......in about 10 years when they're much older and don't whine about needing to be held every 5 minutes.

Thank you to Betty at It's Me Betty for the Mother of the Year Award:

I'd like to pass this award on to Tami at Diary of a Mad Woman. Talk about Mom of the Year...Tami is amazing! She focuses on the positive attributes of her children and when I read her blog posts, I can just feel the love she has for her family. Her oldest son just got engaged and Tami is the type of woman every girl would want for a mother-in-law. Oh, and she shares my love of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch.

Thank you to Veronica Lee at OF MICE AND raMEN for the I Heart Your Blog Award:

I want to pass this award on to Julie at Wife.Mom.Nurse. I just love her blog...she often writes about her experiences as a nurse. Each time she does I find myself on the edge of my seat, holding my breath until I get to the end...her stories are riveting and written so eloquently, she just draws you in. Maybe you all can help me convince her to write a book full of her nursing stories!

Thank you to Becky at My Life As It Should Be for the Friend Award:

I'd like to give this award to Bobbi Jo at The High Family. I just love Bobbi Jo....if we lived next door to each other, we'd probably drive our spouses crazy because we'd be constantly hanging out at each other's homes, laughing about stories of our kids and husbands. Even though we've never met in "real life", she seems like one of those people who is always there for her friends, through thick and thin.

Thank you to Aim at Random Thoughts for the Kreativ Blogger Award:

I want to pass this award on to Karen at A Peek At Karen's World. She's got an amazing sense of humor....I'm usually laughing my way through reading her blog posts. Even when bad things happen to her (read her most recent post about her car), she still seems to see the humor in it. You gotta love a person like that!! We all need humor in our lives and if you need a laugh, visit Karen's blog!

Thank you to Nancy at One Stop Boy Shop for naming my blog as Blog of the Day and giving me her Daily Blog Award (check out her online store...she has the cutest clothes for boys)...

18 comments:

The Eadle Family said...: I'm going to have to check out some of those delicious recipes. I swear, some of these recipes have saved my kids from choking down the plain potatoes, chicken and veggies. lol.

PS - I was just going to say I send you the lemonade reward yesterday, and you can pick it up, but obviously, I am not the only one. lol; March 19, 2009 6:38 AM
Tami said...: Helene
WOW, thank you, thank you, thank you,
I can't believe you picked me for mommy of the year!
I'm so blessed to have met you here in blog land.
I have to say if anyone deserves this award, IT'S YOU!
Truly, I admire your ability to get through the day with 2 sets of twins. I can barely handle my 3 boys.
I love reading your fun, loving, witty blog! I have to say, I have stolen a few of your sayings,
Cavity monsters who poop on your teeth was my absolute FAVORITE! I use it on Caleb daily!

Your an amazing woman, who I admire and look forward to one day meeting! Too bad we live so far, I'd be asking you for advice daily!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
HuGZ
Tami; March 19, 2009 6:56 AM
Laura said...: Congrats on ALL those awards and I can't wait to try those wonderful recipes! Thanks for sharing!; March 19, 2009 7:10 AM
wife.mom.nurse said...: Thank you so much Helene! You are so sweet. I always appreciate the encouragement that you give me. Your blog is a fav as it makes me laugh. That't the best medicine of all ")

I am so glad to see your other blogs highlighted here. I am always looking of a good recipe to please the troops. Yeah!

Thanks again!
Julie; March 19, 2009 7:33 AM
newlyweds said...: I am so happy you enjoy my recipes. And thanks for linking me! I am planning on working on some more recipes that incorporate the sticky chicken!

Thanks again!

And you so great that is why you have received so many awards!; March 19, 2009 8:26 AM
Sharlene said...: Wow! Thank You Helene! I truly appreciate the award. It means alotcoming from someone who's blog I love asmuch as yours. I knwo having two sets and taking a hike seems impossible but grab a jogging stroller or two and go for it! I know you can do it. And then write a guest post for me about how you did it! :); March 19, 2009 11:26 AM
AP said...: wow those are alot of awards, lol!!
i am also trying to add in a new recipe or 2 each week and will often blog on what I make; March 19, 2009 12:38 PM
Heather Happymaker said...: Holy moly, this is the link love post of the decade! Thanks for the good 'fo. I didn't have time to check out everybody, but I'm now following The Newlyweds on Google Reader. That blog looks to be a hoot!

Hope you're having a good week. Keep us (all!) smiling!; March 19, 2009 2:01 PM
Mrs Cooper said...: Congrats on all of your awards. All in one day. I hope you have fantastic shelf to put them on :) You deserve them. I love your blog. You always get a laugh out of me.; March 19, 2009 2:02 PM
HarryJack's Mom said...: Thanx for the great recipes - I'll have to check those out since things are getting a little stale around here! If you haven't found Ree, yet, check her out http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/

Happy cooking!; March 19, 2009 2:38 PM
bonnieearly said...: Oh those recipes look heavenly. I can't wait to try them. (Of course I'll probably be the only one eating with all my picky eaters at home.) How cool you've won so many blog awards. I had no idea blogs could win awards like that. LOL You deserve it though.; March 19, 2009 3:55 PM
Jen said...: Congrats on your awards! You deserve every one!
I love to find new recipes too so much so that I have a recipe blog. Check it out at http://thepilelovesfood.blogspot.com
Its full of stuff that my kids LOVE to eat.; March 19, 2009 4:34 PM
Kathy B! said...: Congrats on all the awards! That is a serious list of accolades you received there, woman! All well deserved.

And thanks for passing on the yummy links for recipes. I'm on an eternal quest...; March 19, 2009 4:43 PM
MommyAmy said...: Wow! Thanks so much Helene! I'm so glad your family enjoyed my Greek Chicken Pitas!; March 19, 2009 4:48 PM
Musings of the Mrs. said...: This post led to me searching internet recipes on blogs for about 2 hours and planning my entire trip to the grocery store, before I could finally come back and comment. And, I just now saw the greek pita salad thing. OMG! I may about die for that. I am definitely going to have to rething dinners for the week to work that in.; March 19, 2009 7:01 PM
Tess @ Six Feet Under Blog said...: Thanks for the cut photo-I almost barfed. lol. Congrats on all the awards!; March 22, 2009 6:59 AM
The High Family said...: thanks again Helene! You are the best!!!!; March 22, 2009 8:04 PM
The High Family said...: ohhh and duh! I also meant to tell you congrats for receiving sooooo many rewards...you totally deserve them all. :); March 22, 2009 8:09 PM