Score Big with Superbowl Snacks
January 23, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Score a “Touchdown” this Superbowl
with the perfect Football Finger Foods
Check out my top three Superbowl Snacks that Score Big
It’s Super Bowl time again! Weather you are having a few friends over for the game or heading out for a party, knowing what to bring is always a trick. I’m always keeping my eyes open for Finger Foods and Party Snacks that impress.
My first pick is an Artichoke Dip with a little Football KICK. I have served it at a few parties now and it has become one of my signature requests. You can adjust the “heat” of the dip to your personal preference by the amount of jalapeno peppers used.
Artichoke, Jalapeño and Parmesan Dip
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
4 pickled jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1 (6-ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drain, reserve marinade
2 teaspoons
Tabasco green jalapeño sauce
Kosher or coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1. Use a food processor with metal blade to finely grate Parmesan cheese. Add the cream cheese, mixing well. Transfer cheese mixture to a mixing bowl.
Chop jalapeño peppers in processor; add drained artichoke hearts and process just until coarsely chopped. Add artichoke/jalapeño mixture and the jalapeño sauce to cheese mixture. Mix well. If needed, add small amount of additional marinade to obtain desired consistency. Salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with a variety of crackers or chips.
Take a Hint from Rachel Ray
Baked Jalapeno Peppers
12 large jalapeño peppers
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces Manchego cheese, grated
2 to 3 tablespoons green salad olives with pimientos, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped parsley or cilantro
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Slice off a lengthwise piece of each jalapeño then, using a small spoon or paring knife, scrape the seeds out of each pepper to make little jalapeño canoes. Chop the tops finely and add to a mixing bowl with the cream cheese, Manchego, green olives, parsley, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use a small spoon to fill the canoes or transfer the mixture to a re-sealable plastic bag, snip off the end and squeeze the mixture into the hulls of your jalapeño canoes. Arrange the peppers on cookie sheet, transfer to the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
BANG BANG SHRIMP
1 lb shrimp, shelled and deveined (31-40 count work best)
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
5-10 drops Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce (add more to your personal spicy taste)
Corn Starch to coat the shrimp in
Mix mayo and sauces for coating . .set aside
Coat shrimp in corn starch
Deep fry the shrimp until lightly brown (4-5 minutes)
Drain on paper towel, toss in a bowl w/ the sauce
Serve in a lettuce lined bowl, top w/ chopped scallions
Mail this postPopularity: 24% [?]
Relaxation and the Holidays - IT IS POSSIBLE
December 3, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Relaxation and the Holidays – IT IS POSSIBLE 
It’s only 3 short weeks until the Holidays are here. Hanukkah, Christmas or Kwanza, it will be here before we know it.
Ask yourself, “When was the last time you had a really relaxing holiday?”
From Preparation of dinners, traveling between parties and even shopping.
IT IS POSSIBLE!! All it takes is a little organization and planning.
Here are some trendy tips to get you started.
· Make a budget. Unless you’ve got more money then you know what to do with, it is easy for the holiday season to turn into a financial headache. Ninety-nine percent of that stress can be eliminated by thinking ahead and making a budget. Financial sanity doesn’t come from having a ton of money; it comes from spending it wisely.
· Avoid the shopping marathon. Unless you really do enjoy the thrill of “shop ’till you drop” skip the marathon mall sessions. Shop in small bite size pieces and skip the all-day shopping trips. You’ll be amazed at how much you can get done by picking up an item here and there while running everyday errands. You will also find that you will save money and find gifts that are more personalized and won’t cost you a bundle. The secret is to sit down, make a list of the people you need to shop for, and stick to it.
· Keep your list with you and keep your eyes open.Cross off a few people each week and you’ll be done with your Santa list in no time. Gifts don’t have to be large in size, keep your eyes peeled for stocking stuffers and small items. And for those of you who raced out for Black Friday I hope the wounds you endured and the aggravation you felt saved you enough to pay for the Prozac you needed when you got doneJ .
· Wrap as you go. Don’t put all of your wrapping off until the last minute. As you pick things up, wrap them as soon as you get a chance. Keep a basket of wrapping essentials – wrapping paper, scissors, gift tags, tape, etc. The easier you make it for yourself, the more likely you are to get it done.
· Simplify, simplify. No matter how cool your friends and family might play it, you are NOT the only one who gets stressed out around the holidays. If the stress of preparations is getting out of hand, don’t be afraid to propose a simplified pot-luck dinner instead of a more elaborate affair, it’ll be a small relief for everyone involved. When it comes to reducing you holiday workload, every little bit helps.
· Make friends with the Internet. Take the plunge and skip the traditional shopping. Internet shopping has come a long way and is a safe and easy way to find gifts quickly inexpensively and can be shipped directly to your home. You can easily compare prices and can generally find good deals on shipping that will guarantee arrival in plenty of time for the big day.
· Cheat. Unless you really enjoy preparing mass quantities of food from scratch, there’s no reason not to take advantage of a short-cut or two. Particularly when it comes to the dessert menu, there are plenty of quick and easy mixes that can help you shave some serious time off of your meal preparation schedule. Just go to the grocery store and find a few easy-to-make offerings or buy something from the deli. For a special touch you can dress your desserts with extra holiday sprinkles or a squiggle of chocolate sauce across the plate for a very restaurant-looking presentation. Most stores offer deli platters, dessert trays and because they prepare them in quantity they can do it at a fraction of the cost.
· Remember your priorities. Take shortcuts where it really doesn’t matter: buy cookies instead of baking them or barter a task you don’t like for one you do. Cut out as many social engagements as possible if you want more family time—you can’t go to a school musical when it’s more convenient. Kids appreciate happy and relaxed parents’ more than perfect decorations. Don’t be Martha Stuart be MOM
Mail this postPopularity: 22% [?]
Motivators for Mom’s on the Move - Do Super Mom’s Exist?
November 11, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Top Motivators for Mom’s on the Move
Any mother will tell you that raising a family, keeping a house, and working outside the home can make getting the little things done harder. Often it is very difficult for a working mom to stay focused and motivated throughout the day knowing the countless things both work and home that they need to accomplish. Finding a way to organize is one of my top tips for stay motivated. Next time your motivation is lacking, think about these Trendy TIps to help get you through the day.
Motivation determines what and how you do things right? So it makes sense that having a clear purpose in mind and a good attitude can be great ways to stay motivated. If you’re like me that’s easier said than done. Waking at the crack of dawn to Shower, Pack Lunches Get the kids off to school and yourself off to work, and that’s all before 7:00 a.m. There are however, ways to keep yourself motivated so that you can accomplish more and get yourself through the long days of mothering.
Purpose: Purpose gives you a clear mental state and helps you look at your task in an objective manner. If something does not help you reach your end goal, then it should not be one of your goals.
To Do List: I am a list maker. Making a list of my daily goals helps me to stay focused during the day and know what you still need to accomplish. As I complete each important task I mark it off the list. Seeing the list of things I’ve accomplished helps me feel like I have met my goals and gets me motivated for the next day. This is also one of the top ways for me to get my mind off work as I get home.
Get off the Procrastination High Way. Be a good lead by example to your kids. Avoiding important tasks and chores won’t help you reach your goals. Stay motivated, work on your jobs to finish them. Not only will you accomplish more but you won’t feel as rushed at the last minute. You will also show your children that staying focused will help them meet their goals even if they don’t really want to do them.
Talk About It: Keeping your concerns or feelings inside can lead to reduced productivity and increased stress. Talking with a friend, a spouse or my favorite item is my daily journal. It is a perfect last personal blogg to note my daily accomplishments and remind my self how lucky I am and at least one special thing I appreciated that day about my kids or my spouse.
Super Mom’s Don’t Exist You’ll never accomplish all your goals everyday, “It’s OK”. The idea that there is such a thing as a “super mom” isn’t realistic. Simplify – It’s ok to take shortcuts on things; Snacks for school parties – get store bought treats instead of stressing yourself out. If you expect perfection of yourself it will be near impossible to reach your goals. It is also ok to say no or to ask for help when you need to.
Do you Pass the Stress Test: Putting yourself under stress each and every day is not healthy, nor will it inspire you. Stress can put you in a greater danger for depression and other health issues and if you don’t think your kids can see your stress, you’re wrong.
Reward yourself: Rewards can be a huge motivator for anyone. Even if you reward yourself with a new book or thirty minutes of quiet time, you will be more likely to reach your goals with rewards
Mail this postPopularity: 21% [?]
Working Mom’s need help too…
November 10, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Working moms need help too….After spending the weekend cleaning bathrooms, scrubbing floors, doing laundry and grocery shopping needless to say I found myself exausted and left with little energy to spend time with those most important to me in life, MY FAMILY. How did this happen? I had to imagine that I wasn’t the only Working Mom out there that feels this way, or am I?
To clear my head I found this great article and source that let me know I wasn’t alone and neither are you. Check out this great piece on the advantages of hiring someone to help with the less important things in life to make time for the more important things in life.
Do The Math - Then do less, make more and spend more quality time with your family. By Dr. Debra Condren
Here’s what I often hear from working moms:
“I love my career. That said, it demands a ton of hours. At home, I manage kids’ schedules, laundry, plus most nights I field the question, “What should we do for dinner?”
“I’m overwhelmed. Basically, I need another me. How can I stop being stretched too thin?”
Sound familiar?
Do you have an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, doing everything yourself so it’ll be done right, or to “save” money? (If you’re a woman, you’re 110% percent more likely to answer yes than are the guys in your life.) Have you ever calculated how much this is costing you? I’m guessing not.
Time to do the math.
First, figure out the real price tag for hiring someone to lighten your load.
Let’s say you clear $100,000 a year operating a small consulting firm; that breaks down to $48 per hour. Now let’s say you spend six hours a week running errands that anyone with a car and a sense of direction could do. Plus six hours a week doing household chores. That comes out to $576 (12 hours x $48/hour). You could hire a competent person to do the same work for $18 per hour ($216). So you’re losing $360 a week by doing the work yourself.
Right about now you may be thinking, “That’s easy to say for someone who makes $100,000; I can’t afford it, though.” Okay. Let’s do the math with $75K. That breaks down to $36 per hour. Now let’s say you spend six hours a week running errands that anyone with a car and a sense of direction could do. Plus six hours doing household chores. That comes out to $432 (12 hours x $36/hour). So you’re still come out ahead.
Every hour you needlessly burn up by failing to delegate is time you could be investing in your career, taking on exciting new project opportunities, positioning yourself for advancement, networking with colleagues, potential clients, and movers and shakers, and freeing up more time for yourself and for quality time with your family—and it’s one of the key ways women self-sabotage.
I’ve worked with hundreds of women who have trouble rationalizing outsourcing—and it doesn’t matter how much they earn. If you crunch the numbers, however, you’ll have objective figures that prove it makes sense to free up your time for what really counts.
Ask around and find yourself a good cleaning person, a part-time or full-time executive assistant, a computer whiz, and other support people that can complete tasks for a fraction of the time or money it would take you to do it yourself.
Stop wasting time thinking “I need another me” and spend the money for a “mini-me”. You’ll end up a lot richer—at home, and at work.
Dr. Debra Condren is the author of, amBITCHous (Broadway Books), a woman’s guide to earning her worth and achieving her dreams—with integrity. Ask Debra any question now at: Debra@AmbitionIsNotADirtyWord.com.
About the Author: Debra Condren, Ph.D., interviewed 500 women for her book, amBITCHous, a woman’s guide to redefining ambition as a virtue, not a dirty word.
Still don’t think you can afford to hire someone to help - Try these quick Trendy Mom Tips.
Thirty seconds is longer than you think. In the time it takes to prep a bowl of cereal for the kids, you can:
1. Prevent soap scum buildup in your shower with a few quick squirts of daily shower spray.
2. Swipe the bathroom counter with a disinfectant wipe, clearing it of hairspray, toothpaste and soap scum.
If you have two minutes, you can:
1. Gather stray clutter into a laundry basket. (Just be sure to put everything away later — after all, you can only hide so many filled laundry baskets in your hallway closet!)
2. Sweep high-traffic areas, like the entryway or bathroom floor.
3. Vacuum tops of ceiling fan blades and reduce the amount of dust swirling through the room.
Mail this postPopularity: 17% [?]
Trendy Gifts and Signature Items
October 29, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Paper Doll Store - The perfect way to put your Trendy Twist on everything!!
Here I go again on my never ending search for trendy gifts and signature items that let you be you…
I stumbled upon a great new site that featured so many great items like :
* Invitations * Stationery * Gift enclosures and Gift-wrapped Notepads
I have to admit it is the perfect way to put a Trendy Tip Twist on all your Stationery and the perfect Trendy Gift.
Here are my favorites click here to find your perfect match: http://www.thepaperdollstore.com
Mail this postPopularity: 21% [?]
Pumpkin Carving - 101
October 28, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
How has Pumpkin Carving changed so much since I was a kid. My 7 yr old daughter came home from school with the simple statement that they were having the a Pumpkin Carving contest in her class and of course the statement we all melt with - “MOM I really want to win”
Well Thank goodness for the internet and a creative mind we came up with the below Pumpkin Burger. It turned out so good I was surprised but in all truth, the coolest part of our Pumpkin Carving this year was the great time we had trying something different.
Trendy Tip Life Lesson Learned - Sometimes doing something different from the old traditions can make a new Trendy Tradition all your own. Needless to say, I am not sure that Halloween and Pumpkin Carving will ever be the same at my house.
Please share your pumpkin carving creative ideas. link below and blog with other Trendy Tip moms like you.
Mail this postPopularity: 20% [?]