SusieQTpies Cafe: 10/1/12

Monday

Tween and Teen First Talk advice & Giveaway

Welcome back to another post on the Kotex First Talk Tween series. This is my 5th post as brand ambassador for Kotex. Besides being a female, I have 3 teen daughters. I've had a lot of talks over the years with my girls and I'm happy to share my knowledge with you.

What is your experience with your daughters? Have you found any valuable resources that you want to share? There are a few online sites that I have found helpful over the years. Just with any information, I always check it out first to make sure it is appropriate for my daughters. Two sites that we refer to are the Kotex site and U by Kotex site. Kotex is a wealth of information for mom's and the U by Kotex site is geared toward answering questions teens and tweens have. As a mom, both sites have been very helpful in giving me information on how to explain the changes the tweens and teens will face.

Here are a few of the topics I have been chatting about on my blog. Check out T eens and Back to School Period, Tween First Period and how to break the ice, It isn't always easy being You. The Mother Daughter Talk and Info for moms! Click on them to find out more!

A few other topics that I want to share with you are:

The importance of female hygiene.
Keeping track of her cycle with a calendar.

For hygiene, it is so important to encourage your daughter to take care of her body. Daily showers or warm baths, keep hair and face clean and how frequent to change her feminine napkin are all issues that you can discuss with her. Sometimes your daughter might not realize that she has an odor or that her menstrual flow has an odor. Everyone has an odor and each girl needs to know this and what they can do to contain it. When you discuss hygiene, share with her on how often she needs to change her pad, how to change it, where to dispose of it and what to do if blood gets on her undergarments. This is all new territory for her and she needs your advice. Check out the Kotex site for more information if you aren't sure how to go about discussing this. I always suggest being straight forward.

Teach your daughter how and why it is important to use a calendar for her monthly cycle. I know that with my daughters it took awhile for their cycle to be regular. Besides the calendar, teach her the cues that her body will give her to let her know she is about to start. Each girl will have her own specific symptoms at various times. Teach her to get to know her body and it will help prevent unwanted accidents. U by Kotex has valuable information and a calendar. With smart phones, the girls can get an app to help keep track of their cycle, too.

Enter to win U by Kotex Tween Pads & Liners! 50 winners! Stop over at MomCentral and leave a comment to enter their giveaway! Good luck!

DO you have any specific questions on how to talk to your daughter? Feel free to check out the two websites or ask me. Don't be shy! Leave a comment and I will respond back. If you need to, feel free to use my contact form and email me your questions. This is such an important time in your daughter's life. Don't be scared, embrace it!

I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by KotexTween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

$1 International Delight Iced Coffee Coupon

$1.00 off International Delight Iced Coffee

My teens are in love with this coffee. Click, HERE to read a review and get a few recipes we created using this coffee.

Mamavation Two Week Challenge with Bob Harper

OH MYGOSH! I'm doing something really crazy for the next 2 weeks! I will try and blog each day about the daily challenge but I'm not sure if I will have a chance. Stop in though and check out what I'm doing.

I signed up for the Mamavation Two Week Challenge with Bob Harper Oct 29th – Nov 12th. If you have watched the Biggest Loser then you have met Bob Harper. I occasionally have watched the show and have always loved Bob's interaction with the teams. Did you know that he has his own online fitness club website? I just found his site and that is where our challenges will come from. Check out his site here at BobHarper.com

If you are a regular follower of my blog you will have read that I am on a healthier lifestyle journey. It is my journey and up this point I have lost #46 on my own since Easter in April. When I say on my own, I mean that I have made dietary changes and created my own exercise routines and have motivated myself to get where I am today. I have never recorded inches lost but I should have. I say this because the past month I haven't lost any weight but I know I have lost inches because of how I feel and look. I literally have baggie clothes and pants that fall off of me! lol The challenge requires us to measure so I will be doing that for this.

Currently I exercise almost daily by going to my local gym. I either walk or use the elliptical machine on most days. A few times a month I have done the weigh machine circuit. I really should do it several times a week. Hopefully this challenge will motivate me to do that.

So I'm ready to take on a challenge to get some guidance outside of myself. For 2 weeks I will be doing a exercise routine at home from Bob Harper. I will continue to go to the gym in the evening for my cardio walk/run/elliptical routine.

There are over 100 people participating in this challenge. Follow what is going on by checking in here at my blog. If you are on twitter you can also check the two hashtags, #Mamavation and #BobHarperLive to see what everyone is up to!

Check back!

Fall Menu Plan ideas and link up recipes

Gypsy Stew with Ham, Lentils & Chickpeas from Sumptuous Spoonfuls

I love cooking in the fall. How about you? What are some of your favorite recipes? I have quite a few on my blog. I have more to add and promise to do that soon! I'm not cooking all of this this week but wanted to share them with you.

Monday- Time for Dinner in a Pumpkin and apple crisp for dessert.

Tuesday- We want to try Gypsy Stew with Ham, Lentils & Chickpeas from Sumptuous Spoonfuls. She linked up in last week's menu plan!

Wednesday- Always Learning linked up Festive Pumpkin Stew in last week's menu. I won't make it this week but we will make it instead of our dinner in the pumpkin as soon as I can get it tested!

Thursday- Pumpkin Soup- this is really good! I would love to add crab meat to it or shrimp. What do you think?

Friday-Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu - so easy and my kids love this!

Little House on the Prairie Green Pumpkin Pie

Saturday & Sunday- Check out these 4 yummy pumpkin breakfast recipes

Link up your menu or any tasty recipes! Next week I'm going to return to featuring favorites from the linky next week! I'm linked up to OrgJunkie Menu Link up and I always check out 3 Boys and a Dog menus

Sunday

4 Breakfast Pumpkin Recipes for your Fall menu

Fall is Pumpkin Time! Pumpkin decorations, pumpkin crafts and for sure pumpkin recipes. Fall is my favorite season because of all the color changes, warm bonfires, comfort foods and family fun fall activities which we do every year. Here are 4 yummy pumpkin breakfast recipes I have eaten or would consider eating for breakfast. How about you?

These are all sweet so if you are watching your sweet make sure you make and share these recipes with others!

Pumpkin Spice Bread

Pumpkin Nutella Swirl Bread by A Pinch of Glitter

Easy Low Fat Pumpkin Spiced Latte by How To This and That

Have you ever eaten pumpkin cheesecake for breakfast? If not you should and here is a yummy recipe!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Here are a few more Fall and Pumpkin Recies

Saturday

Fun Fall Recipes

If you are a regular over here you will know that I love all things Fall! There are so many things to do and not enough time to enjoy all of it! We also love cooking up our traditional favorite foods, snacks, fun halloween treats and more! With the help of other bloggers and pinterest finds, we are always trying something new to add to our fun fall favorites. What fun things have you been cooking and doing with your family?

Look around my blog for some of my family favorite recipes. Check out SusieQTpies 15 Family Favorite Pumpkin Recipes for Fall for fall and please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Cafe.

Weekend HOT COUPONS to expire soon!

Breakfast

Housekeeping (SC Johnson)

Meals at Home

Snacks & Desserts

Personal Care

Thursday

Fall Activities and Family Fun Food #craveability

I love the heat of the Summer (yes I'm crazy) and dread the cold of the Winter but really look forward to the in between season we call Fall. It brings about fun family activities, crock pot comfort foods and time to prepare for the up and coming October-January family holidays.

For us, it seems that we get to a point in late Summer where we start craving comfort foods. I love to make just about anything with pumpkin. My girls all love pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, dinner in a pumpkin and more! Not only in the fall do we crave pumpkin foods but other Halloween related foods. How about you? What are some of your favorite fall craving comfort foods?

Here are a few of our favorite Fall recipes, crafts and activities:

Fall Wreaths

15 Pumpkin Recipes for Fall-family favorites

Zombie fun with friends & family

Besides Fall and Halloween food, we also start craving turkey! Yes, we start thinking about our family Thanksgiving weekend and eating our favorite family fried turkey! We always make several so that there will be leftover sandwiches the following day. When do you start craving the Thanksgiving turkey? To help with this craving, my family got to try the Arby's Grand Turkey Club which is a new product this year at Arby's. Guess what? It did help our turkey craving!

Not our boys but they might as well be! These growing teen boys enjoyed the sandwich.

Here are a few comments from our friends & family about the new sandwich, "superb flavor with every bite" and "exotically unique flavor!" Someone also said, "IT HAS BACON!"

Here is what hubby had to say:

"I think it tastes like every fast food turkey sandwich. But it has bacon! I had a chance to try the new Arby's Grand Turkey Club. It was pretty good. The turkey wasn't dry or slimy (like lunch meat turkey can be). The sandwich was warm, the cheese melty and the bacon was nice and thick. The sandwich comes with mayo but tastes better when hit with some horsey sauce and Arby's sauce. The toasted wheat bun was more like homemade instead of factory made.

The Grand Turkey Club is a good choice if you don't feel like having roast beef at Arby's (which is rare for me but could happen). I'd recommend this with some curly fries and a root beer."

One of my daughter's snapped this one! She said it tasted like a sandwich (she is very verbose in the way she describes food) and that she always loves the turnovers!

So do you think that this new Arby's Grand Turkey Club has true craveability? We do! Fall is about change. The leaves changes, temperature drops and our home takes on a transformation of fall decor and warm comfort food fills the air. After the hot summer, we crave these changes and take full advantage of them by cooking more, spending time outdoors hiking and enjoying bonfires with family and friends. How about you and your family? What are you craving this time of the year? What food and activities do you just enjoy in the Fall?

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Arby’s blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.

Tuesday

Fall Wreath Ideas

Need some new Fall Wreath Ideas? Do you ever make your own fall wreaths? They are so easy to do and you can save a lot of money making your own Fall and Halloween Crafts.

I've made quite a few over the years because of the money saving factor ;) I know people say that they aren't creative enough to make their own. Guess what? That is why there is Facebook, Pinterest, etc so you can get ideas from others and make your own.

Below are some of the wreaths that I made this Fall and a few other favorites. Click to get the tutorial of each one where I was featured on the Bowdabra Blog. I do admit though, I never could really make the perfect bow until I started using the Bowdabra or Mini Bowdabra. No matter what I do, the bows always turn out perfect! If you want one they sell them online or at most craft stores. They are also participating in the A Crafter's Dream Giveaway where you can enter to win a Mini Bowdabra Gift set or shopping spree to their online store.

If you have any wreaths on your blog please list any below no matter the theme! I would love to see your wreaths!

Thanksgiving Decor: Fun Fall Wreath

Ms. Halloween Pumpkin with fun "hair bow"

Mr. Mummy Bow Tie Wreath

10 Halloween Wreath Ideas

Fall Lima Bean Wreath (yes made from real lima beans!)

Housewarming Wreath- so easy!

Share your wreath ideas in the comments below!

Monday

Monday Menu, Giveaways, Recipes and Linky!

Featured Recipe from last week-Winnies's Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Happy Monday! I have a lot going on with my online work as well as offline work. When October hits I'm super busy all the way through the new year. I'm already thinking a vacation is in order the 2nd week of January. How about you?

Before I give you my menu I have a few favors to ask and want to highlight a few things going on for you. Thanks for everything! If you have things going on your blog and you specifically want me to stop in and comment, enter, pin, etc please ask! I am happy to help.

#1 I'm a contributor to a fairly new food site (Smart Cooking Guide) and I would LOVE if you could just pop over real quick and leave a comment on my toaster video. It is just a minute or so long. Russell Hobbs Heritage 2 Slice Toaster Review. THANK YOU!

#2 I submitted a Pizza Recipe in a contest. If you click over to here to page 3 Honey BBQ Chicken Pizza, I would Love your vote on my recipe. I just submitted this past week and I'm way behind on votes ;( You can win a pizza prize pack for just voting and if you click here on my blog, Pizza Recipe you can enter to win a $25 prize pack here, too! THANK YOU for your support.

#3 I'm participating in A Crafter's Dream Giveaway! You can enter to win a $25 Amazon or Hobby Lobby gift card right here on my blog! Check it out! Good Luck!

# Do you have a tablet? I'm all keen on having one just for using in the Kitchen! What a super way to keep recipes, take to the store, etc. Cooking with a 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.0

On to the food!

Monday- Cowboy Chili from Crystal & Co (featured from last week) and Winnies Peanut Butter Cups (pictured above)

Tuesday- Swiss Cheese Sliders (I'm using turkey instead of beef) featured from Southern Mom Cooks and play around with a small turkey veggie tray.

Wednesday-Pizza Soup for a crowd!

Thursday- Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Friday- Beef and Snow Pea Stir Fry and Apple Pie Wontons featured from last week by Sumptuous Spoonfuls

Weekend-Leftovers or check out featured menu plan from last week--> Miz Helen's Country Cottage for something to cook!

Check out Halloween Recipes & Food Crafts

Link up your menu or any tasty recipes! Next week I'm going to return to featuring favorites from the linky next week! I'm linked up to OrgJunkie Menu Link up and I always check out 3 Boys and a Dog menus

Sunday

A Crafter's Dream Christmas $25 Amazon & Hobby Lobby Giveaway #ACraftersDream

Are you ready for the HUGE A Crafter's Dream Christmas Giveaway? I know that I am! I can't wait to join in the fun! I'm so excited to bring you A Crafter's Dream Christmas Giveaway! This giveaway is hosted by My Merry Messy Life, Earning-My-Cape and Tutus & Tea Parties and has a Christmas, crafting, and supporting small business theme! Each blogger is offering her/his own giveaway worth $25 or more going on now through Sunday, November 4, 2012.

Christmas is just around the corner and time to get shopping! You have the chance to win two gift cards. One is $25 Amazon Gift card and the other is $25 Hobby Lobby gift card. Both would make a great Christmas present or use it to buy something for someone on your wish list.

Other blogs will be giving away crafting supplies, handmade gifts and even gift cards. The purpose of this event is to help you with your Christmas shopping! Win some goodies and find new places to shop. Sometimes we want to give a handmade gift, but just don't have the time or know-how to make them ourselves. This is a great opportunity to support small businesses and shops who offer handmade items! Some of the blogs in our giveaway group will be highlighting such small businesses and offering giveaway items for them, as well.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now you can hop from blog to blog entering as many giveaways as you want!

Saturday

Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Trays

I love creating fun veggies trays. I always put out a good presentation but have NEVER created an actual veggie tray that looks like a turkey! This year I'm going to create one similar from the awesome recipe ideas below with my 3 nieces! Which one should I make? What are some of your favorite vegetable recipes for the holidays?

These 3 veggie turkey's are on my Feelin' Like Fall Pinterest Board. I'd love for you to stop over and check out the board. Feel free to link up anything you want in the below linky.

#1 Turkey Veggie Tray

#2 Turkey Veggie Tray

#3 Thanksgiving Veggie Tray

#4 Feelin' Like Fall

Please follow my boards on Pinterest- SusieQTpies Scraps of Life and leave a comment below that you are following so I can make sure to follow back!!

What are some of your favorite veggies for Thanksgiving? Share below and if you have a link share so that I can come check out your links.

Monday

Zombie themed food Halloween Recipe Menu Plan

Here is our Zombie Themed Food and Halloween Recipe Menu Plan. So creepy and yet so tasty! My kids have their favorites every year. How about yours? Just about two week before Halloween! Do you cook anything special leading up to the day? Or do you wait until Halloween and actually create fun Halloween themed recipes?

We love the zombie theme around here. I have put together some of our favorite zombie recipes and included them in my Menu this week. I hope you give them a try!

Zombie Party Ideas, Recipes & Photos

How do you keep your recipes organized? Find out my solution HERE and how I can pick up and go with all my recipes and menu plan and head out shopping.

Share your links and ideas in the comments so that I can come visit.