Winner!

Did you enter giveaway? You know... the one for the copy of Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables?  Well, I'm about the announce the winner.

Right. Now.

I know you're dying from the anticipation.

Should I make you wait anymore?

The winner is...

Rachel K!


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Congratulations, Rachel!  An email has been sent to you!

If you didn't win the giveaway, don't fret! Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is available at Copy-Kids.com.  Be sure to swing by their Facebook page and Hi!

Until next time, Happy Thursday!

Copy-Kids. The Final Chapter.

It's been a month since I started watching Copy-Kids.  Well, not really me.  I eat my vegetables. But my kids didn't.

Please note the usage of the word didn't.

So, Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is this amazing DVD developed with the belief that children are more inclined to do something if they see another child doing the same.  This theory makes a lot of sense since children are parrots.

Seriously. My kids will copy nearly everything they see.

Anyway, after a month of using Copy-Kids in our home, I can genuinely say that Copy-Kids has earned it's three awards.  In case you missed it, Copy-Kids has won a MACT Excellence Award, a Dr. Toy award and one from Parent Tested, Parent Approved.

This isn't a huge surprise to me given the success we've had around here.  It's managed to get Mr. Man to eat tomatoes and Mr. Mister ate bell peppers.  Who would have thought that a DVD would manage to get the worlds most picky boys to eat?

Not only that but would you believe that we've even made several trips to our local farm stand.  Why?  Because the boys requested it!  We've had corn on the cob, beets, eggplants and beans.  It has been a HUGE change considering most of the time they're requesting pizza or mac and cheese.

I couldn't be happier.

If you're suffering with a case of the Picky Kid Syndrome, I HIGHLY recommend Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables.  The DVD is available through Copy-Kids.com for $19.95!

Don't forget to show them some love on Facebook and Twitter.

And don't forget to check back tomorrow for the giveaway winner announcement.

Until next time, Happy Wednesday!

We have bugs! (No, the good kind!)

So the other day, we were on our way out and Mr. Mister spotted one of these hanging out in front garden bed.

In case you didn't know, 5 year old boys love caterpillars. 

Apparently, 30-something year old men do too since Jon quickly swooped in to check it out. Within minutes, he had brought it in the house and put it in a container. Shaking my head, I got in my vehicle and continued my day.

It wasn't until later that evening that I got interested in the little crawly that Jon had stowed on top of a shelf.

Mostly because of this.

In case you can't tell, that is the same caterpillar.  In chrysalis form.  That red and black knobby looking critter decided to start his transformation here. 

I'm in awe.  This picture does NOT do it justice. This thing is gorgeous. 

But it doesn't end there.  Jon found another caterpillar of the same variety and brought it in too.

Bam! Another chrysalis.  

So I guess as an end of summer project, we're raising butterflies.  Variegated fritillaries to be exact.  And it looks like we'll get to see them soon since apparently it only takes 10ish days for them to emerge from the chrysalis.  

Um, I am excited.  

It's times like this that I'm glad that I married someone who knows a bit about entomology.

Copy-Kids Takes on Mr. Mister.

It's week 3 of Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables in the Sugar Crumbs household.  If you read last weeks post, you already know that it was a HUGE success with Mr. Man, my uber picky 4 year old.

He ate tomatoes. I'm still in shock.

But this week, Copy-Kids had a tougher opponent.

Mr. Mister.

Mr. Mister is my 5 year old.  He's a great kid...but has a willpower of steel.  Once he's decided he doesn't like something, he doesn't like it forever. End of story.  No amount of bribery works, hidden veggie are always caught and promptly picked out.  The kids outsmarts me on his hated veggie list every single time.

So here you go, Copy-Kids, your ultimate challenge.

Can you get Mr. Mister to eat his most loathed veggie?

That's right.  Mr. Mister would rather do anything than eat a plate of bell peppers.  (Even if it is straight from our own garden... like the one up there!!!)  He'd even clean his room without a fuss if it meant he could get out of looking at them.  He hates them that much.

So I popped on the DVD for the umpteenth time... only this time, Mr. Man went to color and Mr. Mister had a plate of bell peppers on the coffee table.  He didn't do much but watch for a while.

Maybe his will power is too great for even Copy-Kids.

But wait!

He picked one up.  And he's... smiling?

Oh. My. Gosh.

He ate them.  He ate peppers.  

Copy-Kids, yet again, you get a million gold stars.  I am about to drop dead from shock.  Where in the world have you been all my life?  

So, Moms, if you're struggling to get your Little One to eat some form of veggie give Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables a try.  It works SO WELL and is only $19.95.  This three award winning DVD is available at Copy-Kids.com.  You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!

And in case you forgot, we're giving away a copy of Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables!  Head over to the giveaway to enter!

Next week, we'll be finishing up a month of Copy-Kids and giving a final review.  Check back on Wednesday for the update and Thursday for the winner of the Giveaway!

Until next time, Happy Wednesday!

6 Things Sunday. Snack time

Remember how I promised to devote three whole Sundays to Back to School?

I actually meant it.  For real.

It's Sunday #2 and I have a list that cannot be beat (I hope...) After School Snacks.

Seriously.  The after school snacks are nearly as important as the supplies.  Learning makes a youngster hungry!  So here you go.

6 After School Snacks That Will Make the Children Sing Your Praises

1. Carrot Patches (From Family Fun)
This makes me squeal.  I love this.  So so much.  It's just adorable.  Baby carrots stuck in hummus make this awesome little snack.  Curled parsley in the top of the carrot adds to the whimsy of it.  The little terra cotta pot is optional... but seriously... you should use it.

2. Mini Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Cups (From My Bride Story)
Okay, so I saw this and couldn't help but think this would be perfect for that fall day when your child not only comes home but brings a hoard of famished friends with him.  Grill some sandwiches and heat some tomato soup and woolah!  An awesome fall snack.

3. Veggie Boats (From OhHappyDay.com)
Amazing.  What little one wouldn't want this?  Half a veggie, filled with some tasty treat (I'm thinking hummus...) and a cheese sail.  Or in the little boats case, slivers of cucumber.  Healthy AND cute!

4. Fruit Bug Snacks (From Snack Picks)
I wanted to call these fruit flies... but I guess that makes them sound gross.  I don't think I even need to explain this one.

5. Kabobs (From The Children's Corner)
Nothing will make an ordinary sandwich more fun than putting it on a stick.

6. Safari Dip (From Michigan Mommas)
Peanut butter and honey fill the celery, while an animal cracker creature stand atop and feasts on bits of apple.  I know a few little boys who would L.O.V.E. this.

So there you go.  6 awesome snacks that will leave your kids happy and you feeling like super mom.  With very little effort, mind you!

Don't forget to check out my Copy Kids giveaway going on now!  Maybe you can sneak some veggies into those snack!

Until next time, Happy Sunday!

Copy Kids vs Mister Man

So you remember last week I told you all about an awesome DVD called Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables?  Well I tried it out on my VERY picky 4 year old, Mister Man.

His brother got in on the action.

Once you hit play on the DVD, you end up with a menu to choose a food.  Mister Man wanted avocados.  No surprise.  He likes those.

However, I decided to try this out with one of Mister Man's LEAST favorite foods.  In fact, I chose one that I know for a fact he loathes with a fiery passion.  One that makes him gag when I say I'm eating one.

I chose tomatoes.

Plop.  Both boys sat in front of the TV watching this adorable little girl happily munch on tomatoes.  No real interest in the plate beside them though.  Mister Mister, my 5 year old, will eat tomatoes so it was no surprise when he picked one up... But Mister Man still seemed hesitant.

Has Copy Kids met it's match?

Sigh.  I left the room.  Only to sneak in on this...

What the...  Is he actually going to...

Success!  He finished off the plate of tomatoes before the tomato section even ended.

And then he caught me looking (and snapping pics from across the room...) and proceeded to ask if he could watch the carrot one next.

He hates carrots.

Copy-Kids... you are a miracle.  But let's see how you fare against Mister Mister next week as we take on...

Bell Peppers.

Seriously. My kids hate the best tasting veggies...

If your Little One has a Big Distaste for all things fruit and veggie and you'd like to try Copy - Kids, visit Copy-Kids.com! Each DVD is a mere $19.95.  Well worth it for a 3 award winning DVD!

Oooor you could enter the Copy Kids DVD Giveaway!

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Oh... and today's Summer Blog Challenge totally relates.

What the hardest part about parenting?

Ha.  Getting them to eat veggies. ;)

Actually it's realizing that the time is flying by.  And one day, they won't need me to sneak them veggies.  They'll be off somewhere else, teaching their little ones to eat veggies.

Until next time, Happy Wednesday!

Pie.That is all.

You ever find a recipe online and you know you're going to make it right away?  Not a recipe that you'll save for later or even one you wait to make for a meal in the upcoming week but a recipe that will make you drop what you're doing to rush out for supplies?

Yeah.  That's exactly what I did when I came across a recipe for Banoffe "Danger" Pie on Brooklyn Limestone.

Oh yeah.  I made that pie.  And I had a slice after breakfast,

So what exactly is Banoffe Pie?  Simple. Graham cracker crust, sliced bananas, toffee and whipped cream.

Did I mention that it took me less than 5 minutes to assemble?  The toffee took 2.5 hours to make but that's just boiling time.

Seriously.  I just took a can of sweetened condensed milk and boiled it for 2.5 hours.  Did you know that will make an amazing caramel/toffee?  Delicious.

So here's my adaptation of the recipe.  (Brooklyn Limestone has it from scratch.  Too. Much. Work. For Me.)

Banoffe Pie

• One graham cracker crust

• 3 bananas, sliced

• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk

•  whipped topping

First, prepare your toffee/caramel.  Remove the label from the can, place it in a pot of water and bring to a boil.  Once it boils, reduce heat to a simmer.  Cook for 2.5 hours.  Allow it to cool before opening.
You can also do this step the day before.  Put the can in a crock pot of water for 8 hours on low.
Okay, so then you're going to assemble this amazing masterpiece.  Layer the sliced bananas in the crust.  Pour the toffee over the bananas then top it all off with whipped topping.
Chill for an hour.  

Eat.  Eat it all before anyone else can.  It that good.

Did you notice I've been slacking on the Summer Blog Challenge.  No good.  So here's today's prompt.

Give a good piece of advice to first time parents.

Enjoy the ride.  It's going to be hard, exhausting and exasperating at times.  But it is SO worth it.

Until next time, Happy Tuesday!

What a weekend!

It's Monday and I feel like it should be Saturday.

I had a looooong weekend.

It wasn't a bad one, just really busy.  The funny thing is that I didn't get a lick of work done.  Guess I know what I'm doing today... After all, I did just buy golden yellow yarn.

If you follow Sugar Crumbs on Facebook, you know we ventured out to a local craft show. Okay, not just any craft show... THE craft show.  The big one.  The one Jon and I are planning on for next year.  It'll be our first show since having Little Mister.

As you can see in this picture, it calls a HUGE crowd.  I'm excited.

So not only did we do that, we headed to a local, awesomely pretty area to get family photos.  After the session, we wandered...

... And got a lesson on cicadas.  Mister Man enjoyed this lesson a bit more than anyone else.  Until the cicada shell broke apart.

Hey! Remember the garden Jon posted?

Yeah... it looks like this now.

And back to the weekend... I ended it with this.

Some of that amazing Puddin' Head frosting (chocolate flavored this time), sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies.

Yep.  Awesome weekend.  So now it's back to work!

Until tomorrow, Happy Monday!

6 Things Sunday: Back to School

Summer is rapidly coming to a close.  You know what that means???  School's back in session!

Well, soon anyway.

So for the next 3 weeks, I'm going to be giving you 6 Things that are ALL about back to school.  Like today.

6 Back to School Items That I Want For Myself.

1. Building Block Calculator, (Perpetual Kid, $26.99)
It's no big secret that I hate math.  I'm just no good at it.  Therefore, I'm going to have to hire a tutor if my kids EVER need math help.  However, I'm pretty sure this calculator would tempt me to brush up on my skills.

2.  Where in the World is That Bulletin Board (Land of Nod, $24.95)

Are you using a bulletin board to keep up with stuff?  I should.  And I might if I had this awesome board.  Not only is it an awesome bulletin board but it features a magnetic map.  I'm pretty sure I could fit a geography lesson in there somewhere.

3. Over the Door Homework Organizer (LillianVernon, $34.99)
I had a tough time keeping up with my homework as a kid.  Hopefully this will make keeping up with it easier.  If not for them than for me.  So I can hound my kids when they aren't doing their homework.

That's right.  I'm that mom.

4. Building Block Bento Box (Modes4u.com, $21.97)
Yep, my kids are going to pack a lunch.  At least until they're "too cool" for that.  But I'm so over brown bags so I'm definitely thinking of Bento Boxes.  I love creative food storage and display. And with THREE boys, you can't go wrong with this awesome stackable Bento Box.

I want one for me.

5. Shark Bag Pencil Case (MinneBites, $35.00)
Every kid needs a pencil case.  This one just happens to be the coolest thing. Ever.  Words cannot express how much I love this.

6. Kraken Octopus Canvas Messenger Bag (Skip N Whistle, $34.50)
All that stuff from school has to get carried home somehow.  While this may not be the BEST for your back, it certainly is appealing to the eye.  I'm pretty sure I'm just including this because high school me would have LOVED this.

There ya go.  6 school supplies that pretty much rock.  Your kids can thank me later for making this awesome list. (I kid!)

Until next time, Happy Sunday!

Summer Blog Challenge: Bucket List

Today's Summer Blog Challenge prompt earns it's own post.

Create a Bucket List with a minimum of 10 things.

1. Visit Peru.
I love Peru.  I've been fantasizing about vacationing there since I was 15.  It must happen.

2. Open my own Brick and Mortar Shop.
The shop would be all boutique style gifts and children's items.  Cause there aren't enough of those in the world.

3.  Get in the physical shape I long to be in.
This mommy body needs some fine tuning. Someone motivate me.

4. Celebrate my 50th anniversary with Jon.
He'll be 81. I'll be 75.  (Hey, when I said I wanted to grow old with you, I meant it!)

5. Watch my children achieve their dreams.
Regardless of where their heart takes them, I want to see the look of satisfaction on their face when it happens!

6. Get that degree I said I don't care about.
The problem is getting myself to sit in front of homework again!

7. Become fairly self sufficient.
I would LOVE a small farm with cows, chickens and garden to die for. (By the way, the cows are for milk and the chickens, for eggs. I'd have to buy meat elsewhere...)

8.  Progress.
I want to keep pursuing my dream of becoming a plush designer. Beyond my small time stuff.

9.  Achieve InterGalactic Oneness.
If you can name the movie, you get 1000 gold stars today.

10. Learn to swim.
Stop laughing.

There are a million more things. But this is what I'm sharing today. What's on your list?

Copy-Kids. The Beginning.

Dinner time around the Sugar Crumbs house isn't as sweet as you'd imagine.  I'd always envisioned myself setting a table with a perfectly cooked roast, several cooked to perfection sides and a dessert that would ruin the strictest dieter. We'd say out prayers and then everyone would eat their dinner, complimenting my culinary expertise with each bite.  Plates would be licked clean and I'd excuse everyone from the table.

What actually happens is that I rush around like a headless chicken, trying to get served plates of food to the table WHILE listening to the immediate complaints.

"We're eating that for dinner?  But why?  Can't I have dessert? How about I don't eat that... Just two bites... One bite."

That negotiation, of course, is over the vegetable.  What can I say... my children are not big on eating their veggies.  It doesn't matter whether they are cooked or raw, plain or smothered in delicious melted cheese, if they see it, they don't want it. (Yes, I have added pureed veggies to other foods.)

Naturally, I'd like to see that change.  And I've tried everything from bribery to withholding dessert or other treats. Unfortunately, my children have an iron will.

But I have another plan to attack their iron will against all things vegetable.

Enter Copy-Kids.

Copy-Kids.com

So I have the awesome pleasure of reviewing a DVD called Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables. This DVD features children, real children, enjoying fruits and vegetables.  Seriously, that's it.  The idea behind it came from Cai Dixon noticing that her daughter would be more accepting of fruits and vegetables when she saw other children doing the same.

It's brilliant, really.  Kids like to mimic other kids.  Why not film a slew of children EATING and see what happens.

I received my copy in the mail and decided to watch it myself first. It's exactly what it claims to be.  115 minutes of children blissfully eating their healthy snack. (And it's adorable.) It's broken up into 12 chapters, each focusing on a different food.  Cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers avocado, bananas, apples, raspberries, etc.

So, after watching it myself, I'm interested to see whether or not this award winning DVD will win my children over on vegetables. With a MACT Excellence Award AND a Top 10 Dr. Toy Award, I have my hopes up.  (My pessimist side says they've never met my boys...)

So today, I'm off to the produce stands to get some fresh veggies.  We're going to test this out. Check back next Wednesday for Mister Man's (4) reaction to Copy Kids. The Wednesday after, we'll see how Copy-Kids fares against Mister Mister (5) who is very set in his ways.  Will they be as impressed as me?

Could I be the mother of children who eat... broccoli?? *gasp*  (Little Cassidy of Copy-Kids does! How did her mother accomplish that, I wonder...)



Until next time, Happy Wednesday!


Be sure to check out Copy-Kids.com for more information.  You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!

6 Things... Tuesday. WBW 2012.

I missed 6 Things Sunday.  I know, I know.  You can scold me.  But I did it on purpose.

In case you didn't know, August 1st marked the first day of World Breastfeeding Week, 2012.  Now, I'll be honest.  I didn't even know that WBW was a thing until last year.  (What can I say?  I live under a rock sometimes.)  However, once I found out about it, I jumped on board.  After all, World Breastfeeding Week is all about encouraging and supporting breastfeeding.

And if you know me, you know I'm a lactivist to the max.  If you don't know me, Hi. My name is Erin. I am a lactivist to the max.

So in honor of the last day of WBW, I give you

6 Things I've Learned About Breastfeeding (Beyond the basic latch on)

1. Breastfeeding may be natural but it doesn't always come naturally.

I expected my newborn to sleepily latch on and fall asleep with a full belly. And with my middle child, that's pretty much how it went down. So I expected the same experience with my newest addition.  Blissfully content baby, happily nursing to sleep. Soft music would be playing and my hair would look fantastic.  Instead, my newborn would fall asleep before even latching on and when he would wake up, he'd scream like a banshee about latching on. Once he did latch, he'd fall asleep.

Yeah. And my hair looked like crap.

2.  No matter how many times you've breastfed before, you will STILL worry about whether or not your little one is getting enough.
I spent a lot of time obsessing. "Is he nursing enough? Wait, how many times has he had a wet diaper today."  9 times out of 10, it's a ridiculous concern.  As long as your baby is gaining weight and has an appropriate amount of wet/soiled diapers daily, you're fine.  Which leads me to number 3.

3.  You will never worry about diapers the way you do in the early breastfeeding weeks.
Okay, that might just be me. I counted them.  Luckily, the cloth diapers make it possible to keep track of wet diapers.

4.  Breastfeeding is convenient.
I've gone out a few times and left the diaper bag in the car.  And the Little Mister started fussing for food. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about running to the car for a bottle.  I like that since I pretty much suck at running.  Especially under pressure.

5. Haters Gonna Hate.
So while I'm on the topic of breastfeeding in public, I've learned that people are going to have their own opinions regardless of what you think or do.  I'm all for nursing your baby where ever you want. It's not like it has to be a huge peep show... However, you will come across someone who makes a comment about how inappropriate it is. Or my personal favorite "Just because you 'have the right' doesn't mean you should exercise it in front of me." To which I say, please feel free to exercise your right to look elsewhere!

6.  It's okay to enjoy it.
If you say that to some people, they'll be a little put off.  But the truth is that breastfeeding is one of the most loving things I've ever done. I absolutely LOVE looking down at my little one to see him staring up at me with a look of pure adoration. Or when he looks at me and grins.  I really enjoy those moments and the bonding time we have.

So there you have it!  Happy World Breastfeeding Week!

Yep. I'm feeding my newbie!

So I still have the Summer Blog Challenge going on!

What is a skill you wish you had?

Hm.  I would LOVE to have better organizational skills.  I try to organize things but somehow it never ends up the way it should.  I need to give it another go, I suppose.

I would also love more motivation to start working out again.  Not really a skill but definitely worth mentioning.

Until next time, Happy Tuesday!

Happy 1 Year!

Yep.  This dimly lit picture is of Jon and me exactly one year ago.

Guess what we're doing?

If you said "Eloping on a rainy day" you would be 100% correct.  So Jon and I decided we didn't want to wait for our October wedding and eloped close to home.  It was amazingly romantic and all that sweet stuff.

A year has passed and I still get as giggly nervous around him as I did at our elopement.

I've said it a million times and I'll say it a million more, I don't know what I did to deserve such an incredible man.  Nonetheless, I am so blessed and thankful!

So, Jon, Happy Anniversary!  Here's to one year down and countless years to come.  XOXO

And the winner is....

Drum roll, please!

Entry #19 - Emily B.

Congratulations, Emily!  An email is on it's way to you!

For those of you that didn't win, check back soon for another awesome giveaway.  I have in my hands something that EVERY mom needs at one time or another!

(The Sweet Goodness Winner was chosen randomly via Rafflecopter.  Please see the Giveaway post for confirmation/Rafflecopter announcement.)