Momfluential Media

Trader Joes Dinner: Mini Tapenade Pizzas

momfluential — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:11:57 +0000

Since I am still buried in heirloom tomatoes, I am still having to come up with inventive dinners including them. There are only so many Caprese salads I can stomach, as fabulous as Caprese salad may be. So I made up this easy recipe while perusing the aisles at Trader Joes during a recent shopping trip.

1 Package Trader Joes Pizza Dough

1 Container Trader Joes Green Olive Tapenade

Diced Tomatoes (we used heirloom variety of Mr Stripey, Roma & Kellogg)

Parsley

Feta

Cut or rip dough into small pieces and flatten to make mini pizzas. Top with tapenade, tomatoes, feta and parsley. Bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes.

Yum!

These were all gone before they got cold.

Disclosure: I grew the tomatoes and bought all the other ingredients at Trader Joes on a regular shopping trip. Alas…no sponsorship or samples (other than the muffins they were handing out to everyone – my toddler might have had three servings,oops, sorry!).

From Hot Mess to Cool Mom in under 5 minutes

momfluential — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:45:57 +0000

I’m fantasizing (again) about laying in a chaise lounge wrapped in a waffle weave cotton robe. In the fantasy my feet are up, cucumbers are on my eyelids, and I am sipping a fruit infused ice water as I await my next pampering treatment.

Snap back to reality. No chaise lounge. No fluffy waffle weave robe. I’ve barely had a moment to myself in a typically busy day. No time for hours in the spa! I hardly have time to sweep the floor before the crumbs regenerate. The kids keep leaving the back door open, and I’ve had to turn off the AC. My feet hurt and my afternoon eyes feel puffy. The only ice water is in a sippy cup being carried by my toddler. I’m tired. Whiny too, apparently. Hot. Mess.

It’s ok though. I’ve got a “little something” stashed in my fridge

Oh shush. This mama is not a lush. By that “little something”, I mean cosmetic products. Of the secret weapon variety. It turns out I don’t need a whole spa day to rejuve… (though I’d accept one if one were offerred. Please.) What I really need on a daily basis takes only five minutes or less. I just needed to make a little space next to the milk to store two essential stress and exhaustion banishing products that literally chill me out.

1. Cucumber Tea Eye Gel:

Sleepless nights, first day of Kindergarten eye puffiness (I wasn’t crying, I swear…), and sad movies are no match for a good cucumber eye gel that is stored in the fridge. Save the spa slices for your salad.

2. Energizing Body Lotion:

Wish you’d had a nap when your toddler did? Me too. Aching feet and tired limbs worn out from kid chasing and back to school shopping for multiple offspring? Right there with you! I can’t make it all go away but I can promise that rubbing some chilled lotion on your forearms and calves can bring some instant relief. Particularly when the lotion smells great and brings back all those relaxing spa memories. It’s a trick of the senses, but a good one.

This is not rocket science. These are just a couple of little things to do for yourself that can conjure the return of your “get up and go” when you thought it had already got up and gone. A shot of chill in an otherwise hectic life.

Bonus side effect of self care: when I feel better, I look better. Almost like I was just at a spa.

Save 20% off Basq Skincare Items when you use code: Momversation20

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I have been compensated by the brand in return for telling you about the cosmetics in my fridge. Opinions in this post and the (brilliant if I do say so myself) idea of chilling the Cucumber Tea Eye Gel and Energizing Lotion are all my own. My neighborhood friends have taken to popping over and opening the fridge and helping themselves to the lotion lately and a couple have ordered their own. I want credit for starting the trend!

Wordless Wednesday: Big Fat Pouty Lens Mouth

momfluential — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:44:40 +0000

Yep, that’s me. I got a big ol’ lens for a mouth. Better to make you see things my way!

Healthy Trader Joes Cold Lentil Salad

momfluential — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:36:51 +0000

This recipe comes from my pal Katherine. All the ingredients can be purchased at Trader Joes. Hello, easy dinner! Love that. Adjust quantities to suit your taste buds and your family size.

1 package steamed lentils (with the produce)
Yukon Gold Potatoes – steamed/boiled and chunked
Shredded Carrots (these also come in a bag, in the produce aisle)
1 package steamed beets (right next to the lentils usually)
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Scallions, chopped
Parsley, chopped

Dressing:

Olive Oil, Balsamic, Coarse Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper

Presentation:

Serve on a bed of Arugula

Optional Add ins:

Mushroom Chunks

Trader Joes “Just Chicken”

Note: This salad keeps well in the fridge for up to a week. It tastes better the second day – pack it for lunch.

Want an idea of what this healthy meal costs? I snapped some photos while shopping for ingredients:

Waiting for Superman… Trailer Hits Home

momfluential — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:52:50 +0000

This trailer for the upcoming film Waiting for Superman, a documentary about the tragic state of the American education system, really struck a chord in me. Education is on my mind and the decisions I have to make are putting a lump in my throat. Dread, disappointment, failure, fear. These are the words I use to describe how I feel about the education I am providing for my children. The only education I can afford – a public one.

For my children, in our present district, there are truly no good public school options. There aren’t even so-so options. Overcrowding, corruption, budget cuts, political and religious agendas… The cracks are so big you could fit a whole subculture in there. It’s hard enough at our impacted elementary and middle schools for an average student. But it’s a disaster for a gifted student, or one with any sort of learning disability. Homeschooling terrifies me. I cannot afford the time off work. I don’t think I am qualified. But then I think about the alternatives and I am sick to my stomach.

Education was always something I took for granted. A basic right. A given. Not something we’d have to fight, and fight hard for. But here we are.

My options are bad but I know that for others, it’s even worse. My heart goes out. I fear for our children and I wonder how did we let this happen? How can we keep fooling ourselves into thinking what we are doing is acceptable?

There is a fictional Yiddish town where all the idiots lived. They call it “Chelm” which is a real town in Poland, but the tales told about Chelm by authors like Isaac Bashevis Singer and Sholom Aleichem are the stuff of fictional lore. There are a hundred stories about the citizens of Chelm and all their backwards ways. The one most notable characteristic of Chelmies was their complete confidence in themselves. Sound familiar?

Little did I know, when I chuckled at these tales as a child, that such a place would someday exist. And we’d all send our kids to school there.

Pokemon & the Kindness of Online Friends

momfluential — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 06:07:09 +0000

We share some of our biggest moments with our online friends. But still, sometimes there is that stigma. You’re talking about a pal and then your mom or your neighbor asks “How do you know her?” and you say “Oh… we met online! ” and start explaining.

I sort of met Jen Singer online, with a twist. Both she and I were contributors to author Beth Feldman’s (aka Rolemommy) book “See Mom Run”. But I was already a longtime fan of Jen’s common sense parenting advice books and videos and a fan of her MommaSaid site. I was thrilled to finally meet her (albeit briefly) in the flesh at BlogHer this summer.

Everyone knows that once you’ve met face to face, your online friends get to be IRL “In Real Life” friends. Right? It’s like the moment when Pinocchio becomes a real boy.

Last week I mentioned in a status update that my son was suddenly obsessed with Pokemon. I was feeling a little in over my head as my boy is late to the game, playing catch up with all his pals that have been collecting cards for the last couple of years. I lamented that I was never going to be able to keep up with it all and still make car payments.

Enter Jen. Jen’s son was done with some of his cards and Jen packaged them up and sent them in a random act of kindness that just melted us. I swear actual rainbows burst forth from my son’s eyes and unicorns came trotting out of his smile when he opened that package. I had to grab a camera and start shooting. Even his big sister was touched, and rushed over to help him organize the cards into his collection. His enthusiasm was that infectious.

I’m here to tell you that online friends are real. And Jen Singer is awesome. But if you’ve ever met her in real life, or read her site, you probably already knew that!

Back to School Essentials for Busy Moms

momfluential — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:56:52 +0000

I loved these back to school selections from Meredith Sinclair of Chicago Parent Magazine. Not for the kids. For us! The busy moms!

Meredith has more back to school recommendations in the September Issue of Chicago Parent.

Dog’s Eye View of a Garden

momfluential — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:31:40 +0000

I just stumbled across this video from White on Rice Couple (aka my heroes of all things culinary, video, gardening and photography) and was completely charmed. I’m sure you will be too. Now go blow some bubbles in your garden quick, before summer pops and vanishes!

Taco Tuesday? Cheap Eats at Taco Mesa

momfluential — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:21:40 +0000

Taco Mesa is my favorite place to dash out for lunch on a Tuesday. At $1 each these tacos stuffed full of fresh ingredients are one of the best deals in the OC as well. Expect a bit of a wait, but you won’t be disappointed. If tacos are not your thing, they have other deals daily Sun-Thurs. Tamales and Tecate anyone?

Lazy Dog Cafe: New Eats in Irvine

Bought Me a Cat by Suzi Shelton

momfluential — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:35:23 +0000

Here’s a little ditty from Suzi Shelton to perk you up on a Monday morning. Share it with your menagerie – her music is pretty contagious.