Parenting Healthy

Book sample sent for feature

by: Julia Cook

Award-winning Author and former school counselor and teacher, Julia Cook’s strategy is ‘Read a Book, Teach a Child a Life Lesson’. In her book The Judgmental Flower, she talks about a purple flower who appeared in a blue flower patch. The blue flowers didn’t know what to think about this flower different in color from them. The blue flowers get to know more about the purple flower realizing they are a lot alike. Their roots are similar, they all take from the same water and sun and bee visits as each other.

Many of Julia Cook’s books are especially helpful to children on the autism spectrum and have been endorsed by the Alaska Department of Education. She has written over 70 books and you can find books by the topics of: Health, Mental Health, Parents and more.

I found a few books that teach children on the topic of friendship written by Julia such as Bully B.E.A.N.S., Cliques Just Don’t Make Sense, I Want to be the Only Dog and more. Just like The Judgmental Flower, these books teach huge life lessons. They make fantastic teacher gifts to be shared in the classroom and many titles are written for families of special needs children as well. Visit her website: http://www.juliacookonline.com/

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Kids, Parenting, Recipes, Valentines 2017

Pokemon Valentine’s Day Card Pokeball and Card

January 9, 2017February 8, 2018 Erin Sluka

Hello Pokefans! My 8 year old son was on the hunt for Pokemon cards so we took a peek as we were out and about last weekend. We found a lot of fun cards but no Pokemon. So I told him we may need to make our own. So for 2 days my brain turned until I came up with this idea.

All you need is red, white and black construction paper (you can get 2 cards from one sheet of each color), scissors and a glue gun. We actually found pokemon cards at the dollar store but you get 3 to a pack for a dollar so you can buy several there or purchase pokemon cards at a bulk price and save in the end.

I found a small planting pot that became the perfect size for the card. You want the card to end up at almost double the width of a pokemon card that will slide in the pocket you create.

I cut enough red circles out at the full size (we need 26 cards for his class). I then cut 13 white circles then cut each circle in half to be the bottom of the pokeball.

I measured out a good width of black papers in the correct length using the red balls I cut as a size guide. Then cut 26 black circles (I actually used the lid of an Excedrin bottle for center black circle-hey! it worked). Then cut my own smaller 26 white circles. Now I have all I need to start glueing.

[bctt tweet=”Make your own Pokemon Valentine’s Day cards for the class! ” username=”3sonshavei”]

I simply lined the inner curved edge of the white half-circle with hot glue in thin line, leaving the straight edge free of glue (this is your pocket for the pokemon card). I then glued the black strip to the white paper of the pokeball by lining lower edge only so that the top edge is free with the pocket. Then I glued the black circle in the center and smaller white circle on top in layers so you get what is pictured.

Stuff a Pokemon card in the open pocket between large red circle and white half circle and you have a Pokemon Pokeball Valentine card that is sure to be a hit. We wrote ‘I CHOOSE YOU’ with a fine tip sharpie, but you can get creative there. He added his ‘From:…’ on the back of the card.

Food, Food/Beverage, Seattle Area Attractions, Travel

Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room Review-Seattle

December 28, 2016July 2, 2019 Erin Sluka

This is not a sponsored post. I was not compensated

We live near Seattle and recently visited a spot near Capitol Hill I have wanted to visit for a while now. The Seattle Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room is must-stop in Seattle to experience the finest coffee crafting you can’t get anywhere else.

If you are a Starbucks fan you have heard that CEO Howard Schultz stepped down as CEO to focus on these new roastery concepts that I feel can be a huge hit. The outside of the building is tall with very large wood doors and when you walk inside it is almost overwhelming to the eye because there is so much to see.

Yes! It is truly the place to watch the finest beans from around the world being roasted in front of your eyes. I’d say about 40% of the atmosphere is the assembly pieces needed for the roasting and bagging of their special reserve beans. It is all around you and above you working to roast. You are simply intruding on the process to watch, taste and shop. It is an experience you won’t forget, not just a place to get coffee.

Starbucks travels the world for the finest beans and develop a signature roast for the most special of those beans found. These signature roasts become the Starbucks Special Reserve beans for sale at the Roastery, online and some storefronts.

When you walk in you are greeted then you can head into the gift shop or head to the first bar for some coffee or pastries and salads. Keep walking to the back and you get some museum-style decor to view and larger seating areas including a private area for large crowds you can try and hold down for you group.

Walk upstairs to see a fantastic view of roasting from above.

If you take a seat and choose to browse the house menu it can be confusing as there are recipes you have never seen anywhere else. At the front bar you can order your typical drinks you are used to but in the back you get some extra help. If you request an explanation of what you are wanting to taste a Barista will come sit with you like we had. He sat and helped explain the entire menu and choose a drink we may like based on our conversations and tastes we talked about.

Below is the Smoked Butterscotch Latte my BIL ordered. This one is sweet and so creamy. It is espresso and whole milk infused with smoked butterscotch and black pepper. He challenged my BIL to try despite the pepper note and it was fantastic.

They made my son a butterscotch hot chocolate. My son thought it had some orange flavor so perhaps it was a smoked butterscotch used or a special blend.

What did I order? I had to try the Shakerato Bianco. I have no words-speechless to the divine taste. You need to love the espresso taste for this one. A Shakerato is Italian iced coffee drink featuring freshly ground espresso shaken over ice and poured into a martini glass. So you get some crunch of tiny ice particles in each sip.

Because there were more of us we also ordered the taster which means we chose 3 of the days brews and had them in carafes with small tasting cups for sampling. This is a great way to give a few a try and please everyones palate at the table.

From my 8 year old son to my Father we all enjoyed the visit. You cannot comfortably walk here from Pike Place as it is many blocks up hill. However in the day of Seattle traveling you can find a parking spot and visit perhaps after dinner at some of the fantastic restaurants within a block or two of the Roastery. Located at 1124 Pike St. Seattle, Wa.

2016 Holidays, Food, Recipes

Holland House Chicken Piccata on Campanelle with Lemon Butter Sauce Recipe

November 16, 2016November 6, 2016 Erin Sluka

Samples sent for feature

Holiday Gift Guide Feature: Holland House Wine Cooking Sauces

Chances are you have a foodie on your gift list. Even if you have a hard-to-shop for on your list, you can’t go wrong with food and kitchen gifts. One of my favorite gifts is to gather kitchen items and accompanying food for a basket. You can buy a good thermos and add some coffee and teas for a beverage basket. Or you may find deals on frying pans or a wok and add some sauces like the wine cooking sauces from Holland House. The uses for these sauces are endless. You can marinade, cook and saute with them for delicious flavors.

If you are the one hosting holiday meals, you will love the flavors Holland House sauces add to your meats and poultry. Even seafood can get a bold flavor with these. It will become your go to bottle when cooking meals. It has for me.

When I was first sent the wines I started browsing the Holland House website and found their recipe page. I saw a recipe for Chicken Piccata on Campanelle with Lemon Butter Sauce and I had all of those ingredients already in my fridge and cupboard. I followed the recipe and it was a hit! I will share that recipe below!

Chicken Piccata on Campanelle with Lemon Butter Sauce (from Holland House recipes)

Ingredients:

4-6 boneless chicken breasts, sliced into 1 inch long and ½ inch wide pieces
1 lemon, halved
2 tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. fresh ground pepper
15 capers
⅓ cup Holland House White Cooking Wine
1 box of campanelle pasta
1 stick butter, unsalted

Directions:

Combine chicken, garlic powder, salt, pepper, cooking wine, juice from half a lemon and 10 capers. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and keep warm when done
Combine the butter and juice from the remaining lemon half in a small saucepan. Whisk together and cook on low heat. Add the chicken and marinade to the saucepan and cook thoroughly.
Transfer pasta to plates and top with chicken and sauce. Garnish with remaining capers.

You can find these sauces at retailers and grocers near you. Give it a try and pick up a bottle and start using it as a marinade and sauce. You can pick up a few and add to your gifting baskets this season as well. Make sure you follow them so you are on alert to promotions. You can also sign up and save on their website to get coupons.

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Visit the 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for the master gift list-it is updated daily.