A Giveaway!

Read about it and enter to win here At Second Street: My First Giveaway!. Good luck!

UN-Happy Meals?

I just came across a news story that said that Santa Clara County is making it illegal to sell kid's meals with toys at fast food restaurants. It said that restaurants are using toys to "sell the food"; that food choices are made according to the toy.



Excuse me, but when did kids start deciding what they are going to eat? If the kids are getting to choose what they eat it is because the parents are giving them the choice. I am smart enough to know that my kids are going to want a kid's meal because of the toy, but it is MY choice whether or not to buy it.

I know that the point was that unhealthy food options are associated with the kid's meals, but the problem isn't the kid's meals: it's lazy parenting [speaking from experience]. Obviously, the parent chose the restaurant.

On the other hand, sometimes parents [or other adults] want to take their kids out for a treat. Now this law will make that very difficult. Sad.


***Note: I am not saying that everyone who eats at a fast food restaurant is lazy. We eat out sometimes too. [More than I'd like to.] Sometimes circumstances beyond our control dictate it and sometimes it's a treat. Those times are okay. If you are eating fast food 5 days a week, then you've got problems [probably many!].

Confession Time...

I read craft blogs. A lot of them. I really enjoy craft blogs. But that is not my confession. My confession is that I strongly dislike cutesy kids' crafts. Yes, I am a mother of four small children and a former Sunday School teacher, but I don't like kid crafts. It's not that I don't like the kids to have fun and be creative, it's just that I don't see the point of making something unless it is useful. I know it sounds so weird.

There have been things the kids brought home from school or church that went straight to the trash. (Shhh!) Then there are things I will keep forever. I love the little magnet my oldest daughter made with a clothes pin. It has a picture of my husband's face and she dressed him as a farmer. It is so cute! And I can use it to hold something up on the fridge! USEFUL!


Yep. Playdoh is pretty much a no-go around here. Messy, germy, mess! YUCK!
I know I am a horrible mother. Hopefully, with therapy, my kids with make it as adults.
I mean, look at me, I turned out alright, didn't I? Right? Hello? Anyone there?
HEY!

Wanna-BK Mocha Joes!

Who doesn't love Burger King's Mocha BK Joes? They are like a drug for me; I go through withdrawls! Yesterday was one such day. I was craving a Mocha BK, but I didn't want to spend the $2. I know, I'm a cheapskate, but if I spent $2 every time I was craving one, I would be in serious debt! Can you tell how much I love them? Anyway, I came across several recipes on the internet. I copied and pasted a few of them and printed them. Yesterday I tried one, it was okay. I added a little more chocolate syrup and sugar and it was better. But this morning I decided to try another recipe. Perfect! Oh my WORD! They are so very yummy! I thought I would share with you all. [I believe in giving credit to whom it is due, but unfortunately, I couldn't find the website/link to where I found this recipe. If this is your recipe, I apologize.]

Ingredients:
1/2 cup instant cocoa mix (or 4 pks.)
4 tsp. instant coffee
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup boiling water (2 mins. in microwave)
ice
milk

Add cocoa, coffee & sugar to the boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add vanilla. Pour into a 2 quart pitcher half filled with ice. Stir in milk to fill pitcher. Serve in tall glasses of ice.

These are so easy and delicious! Enjoy!