Kristy Chowning

So if you or someone you know could use new cookware, let me know because Pampered Chef is offering 60% this month when you host a show.  You can either do a catalog show or a cooking show, and still get this great deal.  Here are a couple of examples.  I’m personally looking to get a 12″nonstick skillet for less than $60, you can’t beat that! Let me know if you are interested.

A recent new study suggests that giving prebiotic supplementation to full term infants resulted in more normal stool patterns and better weight gain compared to those that didn’t receive the prebiotics.  Breastfed infants receive the prebiotics through the mother’s milk.  The article suggests benefits but recommends further controlled studies to be done before recommending it routinely.  But it’s something to think about!

Most of you know that a few months ago I started my own business as a Pampered Chef consultant.  It has been such a great opportunity for me.  It gives me a chance to get out and meet new people, and I get to try new recipes and then share them.   I’ve been amazed at how easy Pampered Chef makes it to have your own business.  I can work as little or as much as I want, and I get to stock my kitchen up with all these fun gadgets.  The extra money is nice too, I mean, who couldn’t use a little extra income these days?  I am so grateful to all my friends and family who have supported me these past 3 months. I truly couldn’t have launched without them.

I set a personal goal for my first 90 days, and I’m very close to meeting it.  So to celebrate, I’m offering FREE shipping and the Season’s Best Recipe book for any order received by July 2nd. So take a look and then either e-mail or call  me to make sure that you get your free stuff!  Thanks, and I look forward to being your Pampered Chef consultant.

I feel inadequate. There are times in life that I feel on top of the world, and then there are times like right now when I feel inadequate, criticized, and just not enough. I feel like I try really hard to do the things I’m supposed to do. Simple things become so complicated. For instance, buying groceries is not just a trip to the store. You have to plan your meals, make your list, and don’t forget to clip coupons, oh and be sure to be environmentally conscious and bring your reusable bags, all the while toting around 2 small kids that may or may not want to be there. It’s exhausting just thinking about it! This “things to do” list is never ending, so I won’t even attempt to type one out.

Sometimes it just feels like there isn’t enough of me to go around, or maybe there just isn’t enough hours in a day, or maybe I just don’t have the energy to be superwoman. Either way, something falls short. In all of this, I recognize that I’m selfish with my time. I know I could be more efficient and more organized, and maybe it is times like this that motivate me to be just that–more than I already am. I want to be the mom and wife that takes care of everything and does it well. I know that my lack of organization annoys my husband and to some degree it baffles me as well. I’m typically an organized person, but lately it just hasn’t been high on the priority list.

I will admit it, I want to be superwoman. You know who I am talking about. The woman that has it all together, the one who manages her household, raises her kids, takes care of herself, and doesn’t even seem to bat an eye doing it. I try to be that woman, but in the end, no such woman exists. There may be women that look like they are superwoman, but they too fall short from such a title. So I’m left trying to be me. The ‘me’ that knows there is always room for improvement, but is trying desperately to find peace and contentment with who God made me to be. It is such a process of finding out just who that ‘me’ is though. I used to think I knew myself pretty well, but I really knew the ‘me’ that I wanted to be, not the original ‘me’. I knew the ‘me’ that I wanted others to see. Now in my thirties, I’m becoming more and more content discovering the ‘me’ that God made….inadequacies and all.

P.S. Note to self—Don’t forget to work out, read your bible, and FLOSS. Kristy you have to take care of yourself!

A friend of mine just started a new clothing line targeted to cool moms. So if you are one, or if you know of one, check out their giveaway! Guys you could submit entries too and give the prize to your wife!

I’ve written about the dilemma of trying to find the perfect double stroller before, and 3kidandus is giving away a Bumbleride!  From what she says, it comes close to being perfect. So check it out and maybe you will win!

My husband finally convinced me to get an Iphone. I know, I know, twist my arm. I usually hesitate with the latest techno gadget, but I’m learning that it’s inevitable, so I might as well embrace it.

On a side note, when we were first married, I remember my husband telling me that I needed a cell phone. He had one, so I didn’t see the point in having one, because we could just share right? Well we all know how that worked out. Now I talk on the phone more than him, and I wonder why we even have a house phone.

Anyway, back to the iphone…I love organization, but my perfectionism often prevents me from finding the ‘perfect’ way to organize. Recipes are one of those things that I have yet to figure out how to keep organized…but not electronically. MacGourmet is a software system that categorizes recipes and allows you to ‘clip’ new recipes. You can then plan your meals and it will create a shopping list for you. Pretty sweet…except sometimes I never take the time to actually do it. The good news is that macgourmet has an app for my phone. It syncs with my computer automatically. So now all my recipes and shopping lists are on my phone!

I also utilize Allrecipes.com quite often. Just this week Allrecipes.com came out with a dinner spinner app. Not only does it give you access to all of its recipes, but it also allows you to choose your categories and your time allowances, and it will give you recipe matches. How sweet is that!

The American Academy of Pediatrics has put out a new recommendation—that toddlers stay rear facing until age 2. It was previously recommended that babies stay rear facing until age 1, and then I heard as long as possible.

Now the AAP reports:

Recent data shows why toddlers between ages 12 and 23 months who ride rear-facing in a car safety seat are more than five times safer than those riding forward-facing in a seat.

I’m pretty sure my 20 month old would not like to be switched after riding forward for all these months. So what do you think? If you have a toddler, will you switchback to rear facing?

I’m not much of a salesperson.  It’s just not my thing.  Sometimes though, I find something that I enjoy and I have to share.  Cooking is so much more fun when you have the right tool or gadget.  Over the years, I’ve enjoyed going to pampered chef parties and purchasing items that would make cooking in the kitchen that much more fun and easy.  Here are a few of my favorites…

#1 favorite item—the micro-cooker

It’s cheap, and it cooks vegetables (both frozen and fresh) perfectly in the microwave.  It’s been wonderful for those last minute veggies that a meal needs.

#2 favorite item–the food chopper

It makes food prep so much faster-especially when you need to dice onions.  I’m not a big fan of the crying while cooking thing, and using my food chopper makes it so much easier and faster.

#3  favorite item—The large bar pan

Whether you are baking cookies, bacon, or rolls, this pan bakes them perfectly.  I’m actually considering getting rid of several of my other cookie pans just because I always end up using this one.

#4 favorite item–the crinkle cutter

It’s intended to make veggies and fruit pretty after being cut. But I use it to dice things quickly.  I’ve had mine for several years and every time I need to dice potatoes it gets a workout. I get tons of comments about this one when friends are over.

A couple of things I’m excited about getting….

the pineapple wedger–I love pineapple, but I hate to spend the extra money to buy the already prepared pineapple in the grocery store.  When I buy a whole pineapple and try to cut it up, it just doesn’t do justice to this beautiful fruit.

Deep covered baker–It sounds a lot like a dutch oven, but it also works in the microwave!  I’m excited to find out some fun ways to use this, and it looks so good it can go straight to the table!

Gravy Separator–I recently discovered the joy of baking a roast, and roast just isn’t the same without some yummy gravy poured over it!

To ease the transition and frustration of toddlerhood, Kyle and I opted to teach Savannah some basic sign language. She knows ‘more’, ‘all done’, ‘milk’, ‘eat’, and ‘please’. There are several others that we are working on, but the few she knows makes a world of a difference, especially at mealtimes.

Recently, she started putting her hand above her head and moving her fingers . We couldn’t figure out what she was trying to tell us, until today. Savannah was showing her brother some sweet attention, and my mom said to me that I should get a picture. As I pull out the camera, Savannah starts doing her “new” sign. It was then that we realized what it meant. Every time we take a picture of Savannah, we try to get her attention at the camera. This usually entails putting our hand over the camera and snapping. All on her own, she associated picture taking with that hand motion. She understand way more than we realize!

On another note, she has now decided that she only likes to give kisses to her brother–nobody else. We don’t even have to prompt her to do it either. Several times a day she spontaneously walks over to him and kisses him. She is such a sweetheart. I’m so proud of how she is making this transition to being a big sister.