We cut it close on the first day of school but at least we eat well

Here's what I did this morning all before 8:00 am:

1. made chocolate chip pancakes

2. made bacon

3. made an egg casserole (for the annual neighborhood brunch)

4. Packed lunches including snack

With all the cooking I barely had time to take the traditional snuggle-up-to-your-sister-and-smile-even-though-I-just-yelled-at-you-for-changing-your-shoes-for-the-third-time photo:

But, they do look so cute don't they? Not matching but definitely twins at their best. And, they were excited.

So excited I could hardly get them to slow down enough for me to take this photo of the walk.

Phew! We didn't miss the line-up outside and we even found a few of our friends in class.

I can't wait to hear how it all went. And the goal for tomorrow? Less cooking, more snuggling.

How was your first day of school?

Janine

For more on back-to-school see

Fashion Friday: bold print backpacks and Chucks

Wisdom from the bottom of a mimosa

Making S'mores, Making Memories

We have a fire pit that I fell in love with for several reasons:

1. I LOVE to make s'mores. Fire to me (whether in the fireplace or camping) means s'mores. I ALWAYS have  I prefer Hershey's Special Dark but The Twofer go for the classic

and

on hand and if you think I'm saying that just for this post....feel free to check with The Mister.

2. Sitting around a fire pit on a Friday night means we actually TALK to each other. We tell scary stories, we look for shooting stars, we catch up. And before we know it it's bedtime we have spent quality time with each other and without TV or computers.

3. Fire means gathering. We kicked off the summer with a S'mores party and invited some neighbors over to join us. Everyone brought their drink of choice and a sweatshirt (oh what I wouldn't give for a chilly night!) and we supplied all the s'mores fixings...including wet paper towels for littles sticky fingers.

The girls are already planning the next one!

They still talk about running around the backyard with their friends and their flashlights, chocolate smeared over their faces and goopy marshmallows dripping off their fingers. It's a memory they will cherish.

Just as I cherish the memories we make around that fire pit.

What's your s'mores memory? Head on over to THIS POST and leave a comment for a chance to win some Hershey's swag!

Janine

Disclosure: As part of the S'mores Road Trip to BlogHer I received a round trip ticket on Amtrak to the convention and Hershey branded items. Any views expressed in this post are my own. This post was neigher reviewed nor approved by Hershey prior to posting.

Holy Mother of all that is creamy and delicious

Did you know there are two AMAZING food delivery businesses in the DC area?

And I'm not talking groceries (but I did talk grocery delivery in this post and that is pretty effing fabulous).

I'm talking about SOUP and DESSERT ordered online and delivered to your door

Amen!

Last week at the Momzshare event I was able to sample (and by sample I mean eat 4 servings and nearly stuff myself) two delicious soups from The Soupergirl and a selection of desserts from Treet.

image placeholder - yes, pretend there is an image here of this most amazing lentil soup (mmmm)

vegan brownies from Treet

More Treets and The Soupergirl table in the back

The Soupergirl uses fresh, local produce to create artistic vegan soups and delivers them in compostable containers making her green and healthy! Here's how it works:

1. get an email Monday morning with the souper menu

2. place your order by Thursday evening

3. receive your soup the following week

Treet buys their ingredients from local, organic farmers...so the butter is from grass-fed cows, and the eggs are from free-range chickens. But Treet also has vegan menu items and gluten-free choices too! The taste? Incredible. I'm assuming gluten-free means fat and sugar free, right? (lalalalala I'm not listening if you are telling me something different).

Here's a link to the Treet menu so you can start shopping.

And here's a fun photo taken of me, Melanie and Amy doing a human version of the Momzshare logo (just because):

Be sure to order extra for me!

all images via the Momzshare pool on Flickr

Janine

Back to school wisdom comes from the bottom of a mimosa

It's a tradition in my neighborhood to have a mimosa brunch the first day of school. For many this is just what they need after the somewhat anticlimactic drop off or bus pick-up when they are left saying, "Now what?". We have the answer, and it's in a little plastic cup with orange juice and champagne.

Pitchers of Mimosas

This is a casual event where if you have something, bring it, if you don't, don't worry about it. I offered to host with the disclaimer that if I do, I have the right to blog about it.

We ate:

Muffins, bagels, brownies, oh my!

I showed off my Frigidaire affinity washer and dryer from Mom Central:

Laundry in half the time making more Me Time!

Click here for more on my experience being a Frigidaire Test Drive Mom.

And we oven-tested these really cool biodegradable, compostable plates from Verterra:

Use instead of paper plates and toss them in the compost bin!Click here for my complete review of Verterra plates and how they fared in the oven and microwave!

But more than that, I learned why this back-to-school brunch has and will remain a tradition for my neighborhood.

It's a place to get a hug when you've teared up watching your 'baby' enter the big world of kindergarten. It's a party to celebrate surviving 3 months of the kids home with us for summer. And it's a chance to pick up snippets of wisdom in between sips.

Some words of wisdom I overheard are,

"The sassy teenage years are there because it's God's way of preparing us for when they leave. By then, we're happy to see them go!"

And,

"Sometimes kids thrive in a room with a teacher who has a much different approach to things than the parents."

Thank you to everyone who came, and help keep the tradition going. For the full-time working parents we'll have to pull together something too.

What back-to-school traditions do you and your friends or neighbors have?

Janine

Subway Fresh Fit - Twofer Thumbs Up for Great Taste and Healthy Options

I became a fan of Subway years ago when I realized how much better I felt eating a Subway sub on our long road trips instead of our usual fast food. The other fast food filled with empty calories left me feeling thirsty, icky, and hungry again after an hour.

But Subway has all the option I love, wheat bread, low-fat meats, tons of veggies, and they make it to my specifications...light mayo, extra cucumbers, etc.

Now Subway has Fresh Fit for Kids giving them ONLY healthy optons

The Fresh Fit for Kids are 3-inch sandwiches with one whole serving of veggies. Sliced apples are the only side offered and equal one serving of fruit. Soda is not an option, only low-fat milk, water or juice. These meals make it easy for moms and dads to show their kids a better way to eat. For me, I belive that if you offer kids healthy options, they will make healthy choices.

Subway was healthy before it was 'Cool'.

Recently I was invited to a Subway Fresh Fit Friday gathering with a few other local mom bloggers where we sampled Subway sandwiches filled with low-fat meats and tons of veggies. I also learned that the Subway menu hasn't changed much since it began in 1965. The Subway concept has always rejected conveyor belts and fryers, but it HAS included an oven to bake fresh bread, and a counter full of fresh veggies for sandwiches that are made in front of you, and made to order.

Obviously, the founders of Subway knew that if they gave people healthy options, people would make healthy choices...and love it.

Craving a turkey sub,

Janine

Lunch for Fresh Fit Friday

provided by Subway

More posts on Subway:

Interview with Laila Ali at Subway/NIH We CAN!

Interview with Jared Fogle of Subway