Picture this...

If ever you walked into the NMTOB house, you would find yourself staring at a whole lot of pictures of our faces.  I've never really been so great at decorating and I'm even worse at finding wall art that doesn't A: resemble something you would find in a hotel or B: fail to measure up to the proportions of the wall.  The result of this is crippling design paralysis and a lot of blank walls.

However, the one investment I have been willing to make year after year is photography.  Whether it be scenery shots of my favorite places to visit or adorable snapshots that needed to live somewhere other than Instagram, every room of our house is filled with lovely photographs.  Call it boring, call it borderline narcissistic, but at least the walls aren't blank.

So, when the people from WoodSnap contacted me about a product review, I was stoked.  Their product combines my first love (beautiful pictures) and wall art in a way that makes people stop and say, "Hey, wait.  That is seriously cool."  (No, really they've done exactly that since our WoodSnap has been sitting on my mantle.)

Since we received ours, I can't stop thinking of cool things you could have printed to display.  Maps of your favorite cities.  Reprints of old family photos.  Cool collages you creative types can make in Photoshop.  Beautiful quotes in pretty fonts.  The options really are endless.

Me?  I opted for printing this lovely photo courtesy of our fourth (!!!) photo shoot with Rosser Photography.

The result was stunning:

Our WoodSnap taking up residence in our Christmas mantle display.

I am so impressed by the vibrancy of the colors and the fact that you actually have to walk up to it to see that it's made of wood.  This makes it an attractive conversation piece.

I know what you're thinking - "This would make THE PERFECT GIFT for my grandmother/mother/co-worker/sister, etc."  Right you are!  And the best news is that WoodSnap is offering 30% off orders today for Cyber Monday as well as Free Ground Shipping for US orders.  So, order the best gift today, get it here well before your first holiday gathering, and save a buck in the process.

How could it be any better?
So, hurry up.  Get those presents purchased, so you can sit back and drink some wine enjoy the holiday!

Though WoodSnap provided me with complimentary product for review on this blog,  the opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.  Obviously I barely have the time to wash my own hair daily, so I'm not going to take the time to write about a product I don't fully endorse

Veggie luv...

As I've made pretty clear in my posts here, one of the most beneficial things I've found about meal planning is giving my family a varied and well-rounded dinner menu for the month.  Because we like our veggies around the NMOTB house, we go through produce like no other.  The only thing that bothers me sometimes is that I've been known to get stuck in a produce rut.  We generally cycle through the same 5-10 vegetables/preparations a few times a month and that can get awfully boring.

Enter, Door to Door Organics Produce Delivery.

If you're not familiar with the concept, DTDO provides a service where on a weekly/biweekly basis, you can have fresh, organic produce delivered right to your door step.  What I love about it is that the produce box is predetermined for you (though you can build a profile with your tastes/make substitutions as necessary), so it offers the opportunity to try a variety of produce you'd otherwise skip over if you're stuck in a rut (like me.)

When our box arrived (with the apt slogan, "Joy Delivered"), it was like Christmas Day.
I don't think I've ever torn into a box so excitedly before.

The medium vegetable box we ordered was literally brimming with gorgeous, fresh produce.  I also added a few things from their fresh market (they have practically EVERYTHING you could want out of a natural food store).

I might be hooked forever.

DTDO tasked me with creating an original recipe to share with you all as part of a giveaway we'll be doing this week on the blog.  Two lucky Chicago-area readers will receive a $50.00 gift certificate each toward your own box of Joy Delivered.

I wanted to share a recipe that was easy to cook on a weeknight (because in the NMOTB kitchen, those are the best meals you can ask for) as well as a recipe that would offer a way to use any number of the great organic vegetables that would come in a produce box delivery.  This recipe is totally customizable, so make it with your favorite combination of vegetables, use your favorite jarred or homemade marinara, and whatever pasta strikes your fancy.

Hope you enjoy!

{NMOTB Pasta Primavera}

Ingredients:
- 3ish tablespoons EVOO (as if I measured this...do what feels good)
- 3-4 cloves of garlic (sliced thin)
- 1 yellow onion (diced)
- 6 cremini mushrooms (sliced thin)
- 1 zucchini (sliced into half coins)
- 1 head of broccolini (chopped)
- 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 jar of marinara (I usually make my own, but for the purposes of this recipe, I used Rao's Homemade Marinara Sauce which is GREAT and available in the DTDO pantry, do whatever you want!)
- 1 pound of the pasta of your choice (We used this fresh spaghetti and it was OUTSTANDING.  Dried pasta of any shape would be fine as well!)
- 1 can of cannellini beans (rinsed/drained)
- 2 big handfuls of fresh spinach
- Italian Seasoning (eyeball this)
- Salt/Pepper to taste
- Freshly shredded parmesan for garnish

Directions:
- Drizzle some of the EVOO in a large skillet and warm over medium low heat.  Add sliced garlic and heat until fragrant.

- Add diced onion and toss with more EVOO.  Heat until soft/translucent.

- Add all vegetables into pan (and toss with more EVOO if things are a little too dry, you can tell it's one of my favorite ingredients).  Stir everything up, season with Italian Seasoning and a little S&P, and cover the vegetables.  Cook for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are softened, stirring frequently.

- Meanwhile, boil your pasta in salted water.  If using fresh, this takes less than 5 minutes, so save enough time for whatever you're making.

- Once vegetables have softened, pour marinara and can of beans into the skillet and stir to coat everything.  Taste and adjust seasonings.

- Add pasta and spinach and toss until spinach is slightly wilted.

- Garnish pasta with fresh cheese.  We used this delightful Olive Oil and Rosemary asiago.  Serve with crusty bread for mopping up the delicious sauce and a nice green salad featuring gorgeous DTDO produce!

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Are you ready to make your own delicious recipe with a box from DTDO?  Below you'll find all of the great ways to win using my fancy Rafflecopter giveaway widget.  The only bummer of this giveaway is that you must live in the greater Chicagoland area to enter (unless you live in Chicago...in which case, there are no bummers!)  You can search for your zip code here to see if you qualify.  The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, October 24, and I'll be announcing the winner here on the blog on Friday morning!

However, because they're so awesome, DTDO is also offering $10.00 off your first order exclusive to NMOTB readers.  So even if you don't win the giveaway, you can try out produce box deliveries at a discounted price.  Follow the link here to get started.

Follow the Rafflecopter directions below for multiple ways to enter the giveaway and may the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Though Door to Door Organics  provided me with a complimentary delivery for review on this blog  the opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.  Obviously I barely have the time to wash my own hair daily, so I'm not going to take the time to write about a product I don't fully endorse.

Help me get my feet back on the ground...

I...just don't even know what to say readers.  I'm sorry?

Truth be told, the time I've spent away from the blog has been spent quite well.  For example, I watched my little sister marry the love of her life and enjoyed every minute of it.  I also directed 80 elementary students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the very first musical our school has ever seen.  (I also watched the newest season of Orange is the New Black.)  So...even though it's been awhile, at least I can say it was time very very very well spent, but I'm ready to stop ignoring this blog I actually love a whole lot (even though I sometimes treat it like a red-headed stepchild.)

During my absence, I also somehow lost my beloved "I Made This" Pinterest board.  This board is where I was reposting all of the recipes (and some of the changes I made to recipes) I feature here on the blog.  The loss of this board feels catastrophic (yes, I realize it isn't), but it is a reminder of why I need to be better at blogging so that I am hosting my own content and not storing it somewhere where I have no control if something happens.  However, if you do know how to get this board back for me (Pinterest says they can't), I might actually pay you one million trillion dollars...somehow.  So, if you're looking for recipe recommendations, your best bet is to crawl through old recipe review posts until I'm able to rebuild.

Today, I'm back on the blog already hocking a product, and one that I've already pitched to you all at that...so you know I must really, really love this product.

The fine folks at Just for Mom Savings have asked me to be a regular contributor to their awesome quarterly booklets for moms.  ALL you have to do is go to their website and sign up and you will receive their booklets which are not only filled with great ideas and recipes from awesome moms (like yours truly), but you'll also get tons of savings from products you're already using.  (This quarter's coupons include Seventh Generation, Gerber, and Amy's Organic Foods - all of which are products which make regular appearances in my shopping cart with or without a coupon.)

And don't let the name fool you, a lot of these savings (and even some of the tips) can be enjoyed by non-parents as well (Dish TV, ProFlowers, and personalized stationery - just to name a few.)

What do you have to lose (other than the money you'll be wasting by not using these FREE coupons)?  

If you want to receive this quarter's book, make sure you sign up before July 1...but, why wait?  Go now!

You can also join in the social media fun by following Just for Mom Savings on Facebook and Twitter!

Though I am a contributor to Just for Mom Savings and receive advanced copies for review, the opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.  Obviously I barely have the time to wash my own hair some days, so I'm not going to take the time to write about a product I don't fully endorse (plus, it's free, so whatever.)

I've got your love to keep me warm...

We've been going through a really cute phase in the New Mom on the Blog house.  The Incredible Hulk has deemed it his job to find various things in the house that are either "comfy" or "cozy."  The tags on his clothes are his favorites.  Sometimes he'll reach out to touch our hair or his pajamas to let us know if they are "cozy" or "scratchy."  Even his well-loved Lamby has one "cozy" ear and one "not cozy" ear.  (The cat's tail is cozy, but TIH is not supposed to touch it.)

So, when the fine folks at GooseWaddle asked me if I wanted to check out one of their blankets, I knew we had the exact reviewer for the job.  (Literally, I had about five seconds to admire the adorable packaging our blanket came in before TIH ripped it out of my hands and said "COZY."  I haven't really even been allowed to touch the thing since we got it.)  So, TIH?  Tell us what you think.

Me: Sometimes people give things to us so I can tell them what I think of them on my blog.
TIH:  Blog?
Me: Yep.  So, these people want to know what you think of your blanket.
TIH: Hold on, I need to get some water.
Me:  What color is your blanket?
TIH: Blue!
Me:  What do you like about your new blanket?
TIH:  It's cozy.
Me:  What are some fun things you can do with the blanket?
TIH:  Um.  Play.
Me:  How do you play with it?
TIH:  Um, you throw it up into the sky.  (Demonstrates.)  And you can touch them.  (Demonstrates.)
Me:  How many blankets do you sleep with at night?
TIH:  Um...18.  (That's pretty legit.)
Me:  Do you want mommy to get you more blankets like this?
TIH:  YEAH.
Me:  Do you have anything else you want to say about your blanket?
TIH:  COZY!  TOUCHING!  Where's my other blanket?
(At this point he handed me the smaller of the two blankets and said "Now you can go to sleep."  PRECIOUS.)

Obviously he's a fan, but these blankets get the NMTOB stamp of approval as well.

Last week a nasty stomach virus ripped its way through our house (will this winter EVER END?)  TIH had spent the course of the illness clinging to his two blankies and so the minute he looked to be on the way to wellness, I washed both.  They washed nicely and came out of the dryer just as warm and fuzzy as when they started. Anyone who has been around an infant EVER knows that these things need to be washed on the regular, so I was glad to be able to do a quick quality check there.

I also really love the fact that the gift set comes with its own "lovey" blanket in addition to the large one.  When TIH went to his babysitter for the first time, I really wanted him to have a small blanket to take with him that smelled like us and like home, but I also didn't want to run the risk of him being put to sleep with a blanket on him (since sleeping with loose blankets before age 1 greatly increases suffocation risk.)  GooseWaddle provides the perfect replacement.  (Of course, if you're like TIH, you'll require both blankets to be with you at all times, so it wouldn't quite work out as well as I described.)

Another fantastic feature of GooseWaddle blankets is that they are stretchy enough to be used as a swaddle blanket, but also have the warmth many swaddle blankets are lacking.  TIH was born in the summer and actually hated being swaddled because of how hot he would get.  However, this would be the perfect solution to someone welcoming a baby into our current, polar-like conditions.  (I haven't actually been able to try out the swaddle feature of these blankets.  Swaddling a three year old would likely be like trying to swaddle a cat.)

Additionally, as someone who loves companies who "pay it forward" out into our world - for every GooseWaddle blanket purchased, GooseWaddle donates a receiving blanket to a child in need.  Talk about warm and fuzzy.

So, wouldn't you like a chance to win one of these awesome gift sets?
Great, because GooseWaddle wants you to do just that.

In the interest of not doing anymore obnoxious giveaways in the comments that never work - I noticed a few of my blogger friends using this little widget called Rafflecopter.  So, you can enter the giveaway through that and hopefully it will be smooth sailing!  (If you are having trouble, don't hesitate to ask me.  I certainly don't want anyone to miss out on a chance to win this awesome prize!)  Don't have kids?  Doesn't matter.  How sweet would this be to give as a shower gift?  I'd be excited if it were a gift I received! I'll announce the winner here on Friday when I'll also be sharing our March meal plan!

For more information about GooseWaddle and their line of products, you can check them out on Facebook, Twitter, or by visiting their website.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Though GooseWaddle provided me with a complimentary gift set, the opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.  Obviously I barely have the time to wash my own hair daily, so I'm not going to take the time to write about a product I don't fully endorse.

Stay cozy.

The best things in life are free...

As I have mentioned here before, monthly meal planning was a new endeavor for me which I started shortly after we moved here last year.  When people are astounded by the organization that goes into our monthly meal plan, I always am sure to remind them of my humble beginnings.  The time that was particularly difficult was the period right after The Incredible Hulk was born.  Between breastfeeding, exhaustion, and simply having a whole lot of new responsibilities - cooking dinner and even doing grocery shopping seemed like a really lofty undertaking.

Often the scene at the grocery store went something like this:

Me (to husband, who is at the grocery store to help me in case the baby becomes inconsolable, as babies are wont to do in the middle of the grocery store):  What should we have for dinner?
Husband:  I don't know.  What sounds good?
Me: Chicken?  We haven't had chicken in awhile.
TIH: (WAAAAHHHHH.)
Husband: (makes funny faces, gives favorite toy, changes diaper)  Okay, what do we have coupons for?
Me:  FRACK.  I forgot the coupons.
Husband:  Okay, so Monday we have planned.  What about Tuesday?
Me:  Did we plan Monday?
TIH: (WAAAAAHHHHHH.)
Husband: (orders pizza)

And so on, and so on.

So, when I was contacted by Mommy Savings about this awesome "Life Moments" shopping planner they have developed my first thought was, "Wait, where the hell were you guys three years ago?" and second, "This is the coolest thing EVER."

Quarterly, Mommy Savings is sending out a shopping planner.  In that planner includes 3 month's worth of space to meal plan; places to create a shopping list; recipes, tips, and information mostly relevant to new moms; helpful websites like New Mom on the Blog; and the best part - COUPONS.  And we're not talking about silly coupons for stuff you don't need.  We're talking at least one coupon for every item that I found in my grocery cart on a monthly basis (especially in the first year of being a mom.)  These brands include Pampers, Lansinoh, Nestle, Gerber, and Carter's.  And there's also great coupons for stuff you'll use around the house like toothbrushes, shampoo, toilet paper - basically everything your family survives on.

The price for this amazing little planner that shows up at your doorstep once a quarter?  ZIP.  NADA.  ZERO.  ZILCH.

I know what you're thinking?
SIGN ME UP FOR THE FREE ORGANIZATION AND COUPONS.

Not a problem.  If you're interesting in opting in to receive the "Life Moments" shopping planner to your doorstep, all you have to do is visit Mommy Savings and provide your email address.  They're not going to sell you anything, they're not going to charge you anything, they're not even going to make you jump through any hoops.  (I know this for a fact, I signed up myself.)

And if at any point you decide you don't want to receive the planner, you can just send it to me.  I like double coupons.

If you're considering starting to create a meal plan for your family, I think doing it on a weekly basis is a great starting point and this planner would also be a nice way to keep it organized.  As someone who forgets her grocery list on the kitchen table on a LITERALLY weekly basis, I can definitely attest to the value of keeping everything in one place.

So, what are you waiting for?  CHECK IT OUT!

Though Shopper Incite  provided me with their product for review, the opinions expressed in this post are solely my own.  Obviously I barely have the time to wash my own hair some days, so I'm not going to take the time to write about a product I don't fully endorse (plus, it's free, so whatever.)

So this is Christmas...

I've always been an avid believer and user of the flu shot.  Growing up in a household with a father who was perpetually on immunosuppressant drugs, getting a respiratory virus like the flu posed a very real threat to his well being.  Believe what you will about the flu shot and its effectiveness (I really do think it's become a pretty heated debate, and in those I always like to take the neutral stance of "Do whatever you think is right"), but when your own health poses a risk to one of your loved ones, you'll do whatever it takes to stay well.  So, basically, since then I've always gotten my flu shot and in my line of work, I'm usually able to get them for free - including this year.  So, imagine my surprise when last week I fell ill with the flu.  According to the doctor the flu shot isn't necessarily 100% effective and this year it appears there is a strain that is pretty resistant to the shot.  (By the way, for me, finding this out was akin to Ross finding out that condoms weren't 100% effective.)

All that to say, I wrote up a meal plan on December 1 and didn't even have time to eat the first meal on the menu before I was stuck in bed for the next three days.  (In truth, it's been a week and I'm still not feeling 100%.)  What I'm sharing with you here is what we ENDED UP doing.  Good thing meal planning is all about flexibility because otherwise we would have either gone hungry and I'd have a fridge full of groceries we never used.

This month was also bit difficult to plan for because we still haven't completely set in stone some of our plans for this month.  I went ahead and put meals down for nights where we may not actually eat at home - just a leg up for January if we end up going out!

So, anyway - here it is...

{December 2013}

December 1, 2013 - Homemade Pizza; Salad (Thank God my husband is our pizza chef because I could barely hold my head up to eat this.  It was the last real meal I ate over the next few days.)

December 2, 2013 - I am pretty sure my husband and The Incredible Hulk ate leftover pizza or breakfast for dinner.  I literally didn't get out of bed to find out.

December 3, 2013 - I ate some soup on this day.  It came from a box mix.  It was delicious.

December 4, 2013 - Chicken Bruschetta Bake; Salad (I subbed whole wheat stuffing mix for the first time - I wouldn't recommend this because the whole thing was a bit dried out.  But, given that it was my first real meal in several days, it still didn't taste that bad.)

December 5, 2013 - Beef Dip Sandwiches (Crock Pot); Chips; Steamed Broccoli (My husband has proclaimed this one of his favorite meals.  It is ridiculously simple.  We always finish our sandwiches with provolone and stick them under the broiler to melt the cheese.  Perfection.)

December 6, 2013 - Homemade Chipotle Bowls (This was my 30th birthday dinner.  Normally we might have tried to go out to dinner or made something a little more glamorous, but NONE of us were feeling up to it.  It's a favorite at-home meal and we went out for ice cream afterwards.  Good enough for me.)

December 7, 2013 - We totally planned to eat dinner at home on this day, but TIH was invited to two different birthday parties (quite the social calendar for a three year old) and we were served meals at both parties.  By the time we got home, no one was even thinking about any more food.

December 8, 2013 - Chicken Pot Pie; Arugula & Spinach Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing (One of my favorite combinations is the richness of pot pie with a nice, crisp green salad.  The dressing was a bit on the sweet side so next time I would probably cut the honey from 3 tablespoons to 2 - it still went perfectly with the salad.)

December 9, 2013 - Orzo Salad with Spinach, Tomato, & Feta (will add Rotisserie Chicken)

December 10, 2013 - Lemon Parmesan Chicken Skillet*; Italian Chopped Salad

December 11, 2013 - Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff*; Egg Noodles; Steamed Broccoli

December 12, 2013 - Chicken Parmesan Roll-Ups*; Alfredo Pasta; Roasted Zucchini

December 13, 2013 - No meal plan (Going to a Christmas party!)

December 14, 2013 - Cilantro Lime Pasta Salad

December 15, 2013 - Chili!

December 16, 2013 - One Pot Pasta; Salad

December 17, 2013 - Shrimp & Guacamole Tostadas; Cilantro Lime Rice

December 18, 2013 - Crock Pot "Fried" Rice; Salad

December 19, 2013 - No meal plan (My company Christmas party)

December 20, 2013 - Order Pizza

December 21, 2013 - Grilled Marinated Chicken with Corn Barley Salad (Didn't get to this one last month and it is a great recipe, so we definitely had to put it back on there.)



December 22, 2013 - Chipotle Grilled Steak with Lime Butter*; Baked Potato; Asparagus (As promised, I am going to attempt this one this month since we didn't get to it in November.)

December 23, 2013 - Chicken Caesar Sandwiches; Chips

December 24, 2013 - Christmas Eve! (We're still trying to decide on our plans.  We have a special meal that we've always had on Christmas Eve, but we might be spending it with family and friends instead.)
December 25, 2013 - Christmas Day!

December 26, 2013 - No meal plan

December 27, 2013 - No meal plan

December 28, 2013 - No meal plan

December 29, 2013 - Beef Vegetable Soup; Bread (We made my husband's mother's recipe for the first time a few months ago and it was a SLAM DUNK.  We talked about how delicious it was for days after.  I love trying new recipes, but it is so refreshing that these tried and true recipes are just as amazing.)

December 30, 2013 - Greek Marinated Chicken; Greek Cous Cous

December 31, 2013 - World's Best Chicken; Smashed Potatoes*; Roasted Brussel Sprouts  (This has been on the menu for about 4 months and we've never gotten to it.  And I'm putting it on New Years Eve which I'm not sure we have plans for yet...so it may get bumped to January.  Poor dinner.)

(* = A new recipe I'm trying.  Check back because I'll review the recipes here on the blog!)

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Hope you all have had a delicious start to your December.  Make sure you check back later on this week as I will be sharing a really cool product with you that will not only make meal planning even easier, but will also give you a way to save money while doing so.  Intrigued? I thought so.  See you soon :)