A Sweet Treat

Zoku Quick Pop Maker


Last Christmas Heath's grandmother asked what present she could get for the girls.  Considering they have way too many toys as it is I asked Eva if she had any NON-toy ideas.  She had a brilliant suggestion stating that she "wanted a popsicle maker".  I don't think she even knew that such a thing existed but, indeed, there are magical contraptions that make cool, sweet treats in minutes.

On Christmas morning the girls opened their gift from "Biznona" (Great Grandmother in Italian) and squealed in delight to see the colorful pictures of "ice pops", as they now call them, all over the box.  We tore the box open, read the instructions and, after freezing for 24 hours, we had fun making our own creations with juices and fruits.

This little, cold box makes 3 popsicles at once and can freeze up to 9 popsicles at a time before it needs to go back in the freezer.  It takes 10 minutes to whip up a healthy, yummy dessert for the kids.  You can freeze any fruit inside the Quick Pop maker but, lately, I have stuck to using a variety of juices and milks.  Here is what we have tried:
- apple juice
- orange juice
- acai berry juice
- pink lemonade
- Silk Fruit & Protein soymilk
- So Delicious Cultured Coconut Milk, strawberry flavor

The possibilities are endless...I'm thinking chocolate soymilk would be pretty yummy!

PROS: 
-Virtually no clean-up
-Drip trays on the popsicles
-You can use a wide variety of milks, juices and fruits (there is a Zoku recipe book that you can purchase separately that has some pretty impressive ideas for fresh ingredients)
-Much cheaper to make then buying boxes of popsicles
-Ready in only 10 minutes, we store the base in the freezer so we can have popsicles any time of day
-Healthy dessert option (especially if you take the time to slice up fruit to stick in them)

CONS:
-Only makes three at a time so if we have a couple of friends over they have to wait for two 10 minute sessions for their popsicles to be ready
-The Zoku maker is at the high end of the popsicle makers ($50) but there are less expensive options at Target, Wal-Mart and Amazon.com

Water, Water Everywhere...

Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter

...but not a drop to drink.  For my highly sensitive 2 1/2 year old this phrase is painfully oh so true.  Zoe has a number of food allergies and sensitivities and after much trial and error we narrowed down that one of her major irritants is chlorine.  The discovery of this led us to early potty training (at about 20 months) due to bleeding diaper rash associated with the chlorine content of diapers and the poor breathe-ability of diapers (even the chlorine-free brands). 

Another 'ah ha' moment came when we realized the water in our house had a disgustingly high amount of chlorine in it...more than that of a swimming pool!  Once we learned of this we researched water filtration systems and decided on the RainSoft EC4 whole house water filtration system.  If you are curious about this system I highly suggest you request a demo...you will be shocked.

Now, I understand that water must be treated for it to be 'drinkable'.  There are many bugs and nasties that can grow in water and that we dump in water ourselves (ex. fertilizers).  I just wish there were a more natural way to remedy this issue than pouring in boatloads of chemicals.  If you haven't already, I suggest you take some time to research the effect of prolonged exposure to chlorine in household water.  Aside from skin dryness and irritation, there are a whole host of problems linked to chlorinated water including irritation of mucous membranes, possible artery damage, link to melanoma and other cancers, fertility problems, etc. Without sounding too much like an 'Erin Brokovich', I want you to be aware of what is in the water being consumed by you and your family.

The RainSoft EC4 filter works like a charm but since we are away from home for a year I needed to find a more cost-effective way to filter the water that Zoe will be using.  I researched faucet mounted systems and found the Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter on amazon.com.  I paid about $13 for this little gadget and figured if it didn't work perfectly then I wasn't out too much cash.  It got great reviews so I figured what the heck.  It arrived about a week after I ordered it and I immediately installed it on our kitchen faucet.  Earlier that day I picked up a water test kit made by AquaChem at Wal-Mart.  This kit comes in a little blue box in the pool supply section and costs about $6; it was actually the same kit I used when I was a lifeguard in college so I was familiar with the test.

It took about 3 minutes to install the filter, very easy.  With the filter in place you can choose to have unfiltered water (great for tasks like watering the plants or rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher) or filtered water by pulling a little knob.  I first used the AquaChem test kit to test the unfiltered water.  The ideal chlorine level for a swimming pool is about 1.5 ppm...the unfiltered water had 3.0 ppm, twice that of what should be in a swimming pool!  Then came the real test, the filtered water.  Amazingly the filtered water had 0.0 ppm of chlorine...every little bit was removed, hallelujah!  We then installed the same filter on Zoe's bathroom sink and taught her how to pull the knob when she needs filtered water to brush her teeth or wash her hands.  What a relief it was to find this little contraption for not a lot of dough!

I highly recommend you purchase the AquaChem (or equivalent) water test kit from Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's or any hardware or pool supply store.  Check out your water...then get your Culligan FM-15A filter right away :)

It's Essential

JJ Cole Essentials Blanket


I registered for this 'blanket' five years ago when I was pregnant with our first child.  We have used it every spring for picnics and summer at the beach since then, washed it multiple times, crammed it into the car or stroller and it still looks brand new.  I feel that everybody, whether they have children or not, should own one.  It is lightly padded, the surface wipes clean, it's machine washable, it folds very easily, and it is inexpensive.  I highly recommend this handy little contraption!

PROS:  It's machine washable, it's cheap...$25 on Amazon and eligible for free Super Saver Shipping!, it's spacious (5' x 5'), it folds very easily into a messenger bag with an outer pocket for storing magazines, books, wipes, diapers, etc., and it comes in a variety of colors

CONS:  Not a one!