Making Our Own Fast Food

© Flickr User LancerE

I love fast food like almost everyone but it's important to eat healthy to keep our bodies fit. So while we sometimes get fast food, I also make our favourite fast food at home.

Fries Supreme from Taco Bell

At Taco Bell, it has tomatoes which I don't like and cheese sauce even though I'd rather have shredded cheese. Plus the meat does havoc on my stomach. Plus it's too small. So we make our own with baked french fries, lean ground beef with not as strong spices. We have leeks (instead of green onion, just my preference.), shredded cheese and sour cream. Now I don't claim to be a healthy eater all the time. We should use light cheese and light sour cream but we don't because we can't stand the taste. But I figure it's still healthier than Taco Bell.

Taco from Taco Bell

Well not really because Fries Supreme is the ONLY thing I will eat from Taco Bell. But we do love tacos and again, we make them a bit healthier. No deep fried shells, (we eat soft tacos,) plus we eat whole wheat flour tortillas.

Hamburger/Cheeseburger (McDonalds/BK/Wendys etc.)

As I said before, I don't claim that I still don't struggle with wanting to eat less healthy portions and such, Plus it's a struggle to get my husband to eat healthy. We make our own hamburgers. We use lean ground beef when we can afford it. I'd like to use whole wheat buns but have a hard time finding them. We add our fixings as we want and let me tell you, they are way more filling than ones from McDonalds or BK. So we eat less. Even if we eat fries with it, they're baked and we don't drink pop with it.

Chicken Nuggets and Fries from McDonalds (for the kids)

I will be the first to admit that fast food and homemade food don't taste the same. My kids love McDonalds but what they really want, is chicken nuggets and fries, not necessarily from McDonalds. So I save myself money and a bit of health by making them at home. Nuggets and fries aren't a healthy food but I bake them so they are still a bit better.

There are still a few things I haven't figured out how to do. I'd love to have iced cappuchines like from Tim Hortons at home but I don't think I could do that. I love KFC as well and we do make our own chicken wings but they are not anywhere near as good as KFC. But it's also expensive which stops us from getting it too much.

Pizza?

We've had frozen pizzas which don't taste great (although I haven't tried DiGiorno.) I've never tried making my own pizza but I would like to try. It's a bit intimidating though. 

Do you make your own fast food?

It's Christmas Eve!!!

I thought I'd share with you a post I did last year around this time. It was connected to a contest which is no longer relevant so I've only copied the relevant portion. You can see the full original post here.

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• Telling your kids that Santa (or La Befana or the Magi or whoever) won't come unless they are asleep only does a little good because if the children are all excited (and who wouldn't be?) then settling down for a long winter's nap is not as easy as it looks. Here are some tips:
• Tire them out. Play outside or take them to an indoor play area and wear them out. Play games, read stories, do last minute decorating, sing carols, whatever you can think of. The more tired they are, the better they will sleep. If they are tired enough, they will fall asleep, even though they are anxious and excited.
• Have a hearty dinner and make sure it's something your kids will eat (even if it's Macaroni and Cheese or Peanut Butter sandwiches) and then follow that with a bath.
• If you put out cookies and milk and carrots or something similar do it before the next tip.
• After that, change into pajamas and watch a Christmas video followed by some Christmas stories. Doing quiet things before bed will help wind them down a bit. This will only work if they have been tired out first.
• Put them to bed the way you normally do and remind them that they are not to come out of their rooms until the sun comes up (at least.) Put on soothing music (perhaps Christmas carols without words) and turn off lights in the rooms near their room and stay quiet. If they think others are awake and partying they won't go to bed. Either be quiet till they fall asleep or go to another room further away.

Well I hope that helps, have a good holiday!

REVIEW: Jingle the Husky Pup Interactive Storybook & Story Buddy

*This is a cross-post between my two blogs. You will find the exact same post at SMS Book Reviews today. 


This is a Great Last Minute Gift Idea - if you still have more shopping to do like me!

When I saw this cute book-toy set in a Hallmark flyer, I thought it was the cutest idea and something every child would love. So I contacted them and they were nice enough to send one along for me to review.

This is the first Interactive Storybook from Hallmark but they have plans for future ones in 2011. The book is titled Jingle All the Way and as you read key phrases from the book, Jingle the Husky Pup responds with barks, whines and other doggy noises.

The stuffed dog is really cute, with a really big head that makes it top heavy and a cute little bell around it's neck. My kids love him. He looks just like he does in the book. When you are ready to read, you just press a button in his ear and he's ready to go. Turn him off when you are done to conserve batteries.

The story is a GREAT story. Although it mentions Christmas and you see some of Santa, it's more of a holiday book than a Christmas book. It teaches that everyone deserves a home, especially for Christmas.

An adult or older child should read this book as you have to speak clearly for Jingle to respond. If the words are stumbled over or there is too much background noise, Jingle may not respond properly.

KID TESTED!
I brought the story to our Spark/Brownie meeting and to playgroup to share. All 12 children total loved it. I was going to send it with my daughter to her JK class but didn't get around to it since she was sick one day but another teacher brought it in and her class of 45 loved it. At playgroup, the older kids listened attentively while the younger ones (under 2) zoned out of the story but perked up every time Jingle made a peep. If it wasn't for Jingle, the under 2s would have wandered off but they started to watch Jingle, anticipating that he would make a sound again. A few times Jingle barked when he wasn't supposed to or didn't bark when he was supposed to but that was because the classroom next door was unusually loud.

My only qualm... Jingle should have responded more. I think he should have had something to "say" on EACH page.

After you fall in love with Jingle, you may be interested to know Hallmark also has a Jingle the Husky Pup keepsake ornament, Jingle webcam greetings and an iphone/ipad app.

*Disclaimer: I was sent the product in exchange for a review. All reviews are honest and are not affected by how I acquired the item. For more information, see my Disclosure Policy.

REVIEW: Madeline's Christmas & Other Wintery Tales

Shout Factory Kids (2010)
110 minutes

Madeline is back for some fun holiday adventures. This video has five holiday episodes:

• Madeline's Winter Vacataion
• Madeline At the North Pole
• Madeline and Santa
• Madeline's Holiday With Mr. Grump
• Madeline And the Ice Skates

They were all cute but Madeline And The Ice Skates has a great lesson about not taking on too much at once. My kids prefer to watch all the episodes in a row but it's nice to have a few separate episodes if your child only has a little bit of TV time.

I meant to get this review up earlier so you'd have time to order it for Christmas. You should be able to find it at whatever local store you usually buy children's videos from. Merry Christmas!

Guest Article: 5 Steps to Cut Through the Holiday Crap

5 Steps to Cut Through the Holiday Crap

by Erika Oliver, MPA

     Whether you embrace the magic of Christmas, are kin to the Grinch, or fall somewhere in between, the holiday season brings many opportunities for both stress and joy. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress but often hard to tap into the joy. Holiday “crap” — obligations, deadlines, expectations — can make the season more stressful than joyful.  

     Don’t despair.  You can cut the crap and enjoy the season by choosing your perspective, deciding what you want to focus on, and taking action to avoid or relieve the holiday pressure. 

1.      Cut the crap by sharing 3 good things. Share three good things about the day or season before you even think about complaining. The most common words during the holiday season are “busy”, “stressed”, and “tired”. Throw the negative words into your mental back seat and replace them with words of gratitude.

2.      Cut the crap by revising, replacing or removing traditions that no longer serve you. A child asks his mother why they cut off the end the holiday ham and the mother says, “Because that’s the way my mother did it.” The child asks the grandmother, who says the same thing. When asked, the great-grandmother said, “Because the ham wouldn’t fit in the pan!” Maybe it’s time to recheck traditions and routines to be sure they still fit, have the same meaning as they did, or produce the intended results. If you are doing something that creates tension, cut the crap by revising, replacing or removing something that no longer serves you.

3.      Cut the crap by creating a holiday exit strategy. Prepare for a positive finish to the holiday season. Decide what experiences are important for you and how you want to feel when the season is over. If you don’t want to be tired, broke and stressed, then make a plan to end the season with energy, joy and financial well-being.

4.      Cut the crap by taking your eyes off your plate. Holiday negativity festers in a closed environment. Stress can cause us to isolate ourselves emotionally and physically, so cut the crap by reaching out. The holidays are the perfect time to take your eyes off your own plate and look to fill others.

5.      Cut the crap by dousing the flames of negativity.  Firefighters teach people to “stop, drop, and roll” if their clothes catch on fire. The same strategy works to cut the tendency to focus on the negative and miss the positive. When you feel tension, stop what you are doing, drop your negative feelings and roll into appreciation of the moment. Go back to step one and share three good things about the day, moment or season with someone to tap into the positivity of the season.

     Happy holidays to one and all.

Erika Oliver, MPA, is a communication coach, business consultant, and author of the award-winning Three Good Things: Happiness Every Day, No Matter What!, Three Good Things: A Coloring Book for Everyone! and Happy Crap: The Power of Positive Assumptions. A recovering pessimist, Oliver is now a Positive Approach Coach who helps people, teams, and organizations find their "happy." She uses the principles of detailed in her books to help people and organizations choose a positive approach. Learn more at http://www.erikaoliver.com

Snack Pack Share a Smile Blog Tour

What makes you smile? Do you only smile when something grand happens or do you smile at the little things too?

What about:

• When your child finally learns a new skill (like tying her shoes or writing his name.)
• When it's a nice sunny day out.
• When you get to sleep in, even just an extra hour.
• When the kids are finally sleeping and the house is quiet.
• When you help someone on the street and they smile at you.

What little thing makes you smile? 

The Snack Pack Share a Smile Campaign is trying to raise $20,000 for Food Banks Canada in time for the holidays and YOU CAN HELP! Each time you share a smile through their facebook page Snack Pack Canada will donate $1 to Food Banks Canada. As thanks for doing that, you will also be entered into a weekly draw for prizes.

They are already at over 19,000 so with your help, I'm sure they can read their goal!

You can visit Snack Pack Canada for more on their products.

Before you go do your part to donate, please comment telling me what small thing you smile at!

Disclosure - I am participating in the Snack Pack program by Mom Central on behalf of Conagra Foods Canada. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Giveaway: The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation

I'm going to be reviewing The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation but I wanted to get the giveaway up first so the winner can hopefully get it in time for Christmas.

A hilarious and heartwarming family romp and the “paw-fect” sequel to the hit ABC Family original movie, The Dog Who Saved Christmas, the festive new release features Paris Hilton, in her first-ever voiceover role as the prim and proper poodle “Bella” alongside Mario Lopez, who returns as the voice of mischievous yellow Labrador “Zeus.”  The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation takes a bow(wow) at retail stores nationwide, December 7, 2010, just in time to help kids and families celebrate the holiday season together.

The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation (SRP $19.98) follows the Bannister family to a beautiful Rocky Mountain ski lodge for their long-awaited holiday vacation.  Upon their arrival, however, it soon becomes clear that this trip will be no dog walk in the park! Obnoxious relatives and their prissy poodle Bella (voiced by Paris Hilton) are staying at the house too, and they want little to do with the Bannisters or Zeus (voiced by Mario Lopez), despite his growing “puppy love” for the cutest new pooch in town. 

Meanwhile, the hooligans who attempted to ruin the Bannister’s Christmas last year are up to their old tricks.  They’ve made their way to the ski resort too – with plans to snatch a diamond necklace from a resort guest.  When the necklace is mistaken for Bella’s dog collar the cantankerous crooks kidnap the pampered poodle and it’s up to Zeus to once again save the day.

           

Showcasing a pack of terrific talent, The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation stars Gary Valentine (“King of Queens”), Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” Abandoned), Elisa Donovan (Clueless, “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”), Casper Van Dien (“Watch Over Me,” The Curse of King Tut's Tomb), and Mindy Sterling (“iCarly,” the Austin Powers trilogy), Adrienne Barbeau (Fly Me to the Moon).  Kayley Stallings (“Monk”), Brennan Bailey (My Sister’s Keeper) bring two fresh young faces to the cast as the Bannister children.    

 You can also watch the trailer here.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Thanks to Grand Communications I have one copy of The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation DVD for one lucky winner in the US or Canada. The giveaway is open till Dec. 15 11:59 PM EST.

Giveaway: $75 Giftcode to CSN Stores

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

If you haven't heard of CSN Stores yet, where have you been? It's a group of over 200 online stores that carry a wide variety of products from furniture, bedding, lighting, toys and much more.

I've got a $75 gift code for one lucky winner. Please note that the gift code must be used by January 31, 2011 and that you must have a credit card to order, even if you stay under the gift code amount. Also the code does not cover international shipping fees to Canada although there are some items that are shipped from Canada and so don't have that fee.

This giveaway is open to US and Canada until December 22, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.

To Enter: Please fill out the FORM. Comments have been turned off on this post so no one tries to enter the wrong way.

Extra Entries: 
1. Be a follower on Google Friend Connect (see sidebar)
2. Be a follower on twitter @callista83
3. Tweet the following: "Win $75 to use at CSN Stores - US/CAN 12/22 from @callista83 http://bit.ly/haZmDI #giveaway"
4. Like Callista's Ramblings on facebook
5. Put my blog button on your blog's sidebar.
6. Comment on one of my other non-giveaway posts and come back here and tell me which one.