Sale on Summer Infant Baby Monitor

The Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor 1.8 is on sale for $136.29. If you are looking for a baby monitor, this one is great. It's usually hard to find them on sale for this low. We didn't get a video monitor until much later on, but I love having one. My favorite part is if I have to step into the baby's room then I can check before going in. It has saved a lot of accidental wakeups.

Menu Planning

The hardest thing I have always found about planning menus is taking all the ingredients I have and planning a menu based upon the ingredients in the pantry.  My goal this summer was to try to reuse the items we already owned and limit our shopping trips to once every two weeks. It means trying to plan more efficiently ahead of time and then trying to actually use the items we have in our pantry.

Tools I used:
Google Calendar. I have set up a separate Google calendar for Dinner, where I list what we are planning for meals over the next two weeks and then it syncs with mine and my husband's blackberries. I put in the notes a link to the recipe if it is online or a note of where I can find the recipe.

The new tool I use is SuperCook. It's probably one of the best tools out there. I list all of the items I have in my pantry and then I put them in. I then list things I don't want to use. So Ham, Pork, Bacon, etc. is on the exclusions list since I keep kosher. The website is great if you are part of a CSA (community supported agriculture). I really had no clue how to cook chard or kale the last few years And this year we were much better at finding things to do with out produce.

Saving Energy

A friend suggested a month ago that we have a competition amongst our friends for saving energy. The issue we quickly realized was how do you do such a thing when everyone has a different system. Some of us are fortunate to have gas heat and others have to pay the high costs of electricity for their heating. My suggestion is that we compare how much energy we used last year and see how much we can reduce this year. Clearly the weather outside can play a big part of things and this summer is already a much cooler summer, but trying to do things one step at a time is very important. The second thing, is start a conversation and share tips on saving energy.

Here are some of the things we are doing?
If you live in Baltimore, I would suggest getting a BGE Energy Check-up. They installed CFLs, covers for our pipes to help absorb some of the heat that is lost, water aerators, and a new shower head (good thing, since I had to replace it anyway).

• I also learned that there are three-way energy efficient lightbulbs:
  Earthmate 3-Way Spiral CFL Bulb (6 pack)

The next thing we have done is shopped for a new electricity provider. Many states have deregulated so it's up to the consumer to find the best deal. And the realty is I have been too lazy to look it up. And then when I did go through the vendors most of them wanted me to call. I don't really have time to do that. So we decided on Clean Currents for our electricity provide. Washington Gas & Electric is actually providing the electricity, but the funny thing is that they were cheaper.

I have to say moving into a house with a gas water heater was amazing. I saved at least $100 on my bill this month. What other ideas are there to save money, cut my energy uses?

Baby Steals Turns 1

If you are looking for a deal on baby items, you definitely have to check out Baby Steals. They have a bunch of great items and we both turn a year older this week.

Wee-Cycle

Today, I went to the the Wee-Cycle Semi-Annual Consignment Sale in Westminster, MD. It's a great way to find clothes that are mostly gently used or even new for nice prices. It's also a great way to reuse other peoples things that might otherwise end up discarded. You never know what you are going to find or who you might meet at one of these things.

The sale runs March 27-29 in Westminster. Wee-cycle will be Ann Arundle County next month.
http://www.wee-cyclemart.com

Tot Swap will be in Baltimore next week, April 1-5. http://totswap.net/

To find a consignment sale near you: http://www.kidsconsignmentsales.com/

Eco-conscious Pregnancy

There are so many resources about being eco-conscious with a new baby that I thought I would share a few just to get you started. 

I would say one of the best books I read was:
Raising Baby Green, by Dr. Greene. It is informative and gives you information about your house and thinking about things you might not have thought of.

Buying used stuff is a great way to not fill landfills.
Sign-up for Freecycle (they are constantly giving away Baby Stuff)
Baltimore Specific:

• Wee Cycle (Get in Free and early for new Moms or Sellers) http://www.wee-cyclemart.com/ 
• Tot Swap http://totswap.net/
  

Check Craigs List and Ebay.
Things to be cautious about used is a car seat and not to get one manufactured more than five years ago. Also they say not to reuse a breast pump. Be sure to check safety recalls before purchasing anything.

There's also a eco-friendly registry system where you ask people to not buy new things, but I didn't look too much into it.

Websites 

http://safemama.com/ Good about staying current on what awful chemicals are out there.
http://greenbabyguide.com/
http://greenmomhappymom.com/
http://www.naturemoms.com/
BPA http://www.greentogrow.com/bisphenol.aspx
http://www.thegreenparent.com/

Shopping Websites
http://www.alittleelegant.com/
http://organicgreenmommy.com/
http://www.greenbabybargains.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y

YouData

Would you like to earn a little bit extra cash? Well here's a great website that brings you websites to look at based upon your interests and you get paid for it. You get to decide what you want to look at and you get paid for it. Set up your own MeFile with YouData: http://www.youdata.com/join/ali254. My referral is "ali254".

Recipes that Can be Used for Passover

Meal Ideas

Meats, Poultry, Fish
Apricot Brisket (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apricot-Brisket/Detail.aspx)
Brisket with Portabella Mushrooms & Dried Cranberries (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Brisket-with-Portobello-Mushrooms-and-Dried-Cranberries-5787)
Brisket with Dried Apricot and Prunes (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Brisket-with-Dried-Apricots-Prunes-and-Aromatic-Spices-106421)

Golden Chicken (http://www.koshercooking.com/Recipes/passover/sabra.html)
Cinnamon, Apples, Apricot Chicken (http://www.koshercooking.com/Recipes/passover/chickcinn.html)

Turkey Breast stuffed with Matzah & Fennel (http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/menus/2008/04/passover_slideshow?slide=3#showHeader)

Beef Brisket with Oranges (http://www.recipezaar.com/Beef-Brisket-With-Oranges-192492)

Beef Brisket with Merlot & Prunes (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Beef-Brisket-with-Merlot-and-Prunes-241853)

Roman Lasanga (http://www.aish.com/family/cooking/Passover_Menu_with_a_Twist.asp)

Vegetables, Sides, Soups
Roasted Garlic Cauliflower (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roasted-Garlic-Cauliflower/Detail.aspx)
Acorn Squash with Apple Stuffing (http://www.koshercooking.com/Recipes/passover/squash.html)
Sweet Carrot Kuggle (http://www.koshercooking.com/Recipes/passover/swcarrot.html)
Cauliflower Fritters (http://www.koshercooking.com/Recipes/passover/cauliflower.html)

Roasted Tomato, Pepper, Red Onion Soup (http://www.recipezaar.com/Roasted-Tomato-Pepper-and-Red-Onion-Soup-86101)

Roasted Tomatoes, Onion, & Garlic (http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/print?id=12204)

Layer Vegetable Kuggle (http://www.recipezaar.com/Layered-Vegetable-Kugel-53220)

Quinoa & Roasted Vegetables (http://www.recipezaar.com/Quinoa-and-Roasted-Vegetables-122744)

Matzah Apple Kuggle (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Matzo-Apple-Kugel/Detail.aspx)or (http://www.koshercooking.com/Recipes/passover/kugel.html)

Yellow Squash Recipe

We expanded upon this recipe and added zuchinni also. It's been a success!

http://www.recipezaar.com/Yellow-Squash-Pie-311591

Ann Taylor Partners with Goodwill

In case you haven't seen it anywhere else. Ann Taylor Loft has partnered up with Goodwill and is giving you $15 to spend toward a new pair of pants for donating your old ones.

Umami, New Kosher Restaurant in Baltimore

Last night we went out to Umami in Baltimore. It's located in the same shopping center as Goldberg Bagels. It's great that their is another Asian food place in Baltimore. The food was good. My issue was the service. It took at least an hour before they took our order and then I think they forgot about us because it took a while before our food came out. I don't think they expected the amount of people so it is like other kosher restaurants in the area, too many people in too tight of a space. I might suggest take out.

Deal at Amazon on Stainless Steal Knives

Amazon Deal on J.A. Henckle Knives

59.99 These knives are all one material and are made by a great vendor.

Storing Cheerios, Puffs, Finger Foods

We are almost at the end of the time of using bottles. We are slowly making the transition to cups with out daughter, but what do we do with the Medella bottles. They are just small enough to not take up too much room and can be reused to store baby finger foods.

Reducing Household Waste

Do you think you could minimize your footprint on the world by only filling your trash can once a month? You could find alternatives to the trash such as recycling, reusing, composting, etc. 

Here is an interesting challenge: One Can a Month Challenge

Fun Solutions for Parenting

Our daughter loves to put anything in her mouth. At 8 months, paper is one of her favorite things. Parent Hacks had a fun solution, to give her a piece of seaweed when she wants paper. She loved it and best, it is much more nutritious then the paper and melts in her mouth.

Another solution we have started is by collecting all of the bags that we put the vegetables/fruit in and also for the newspapers. We stash them into her diaper bag and use it to throw away her dirty diapers.

Restaurant.com

Great deal going on right now until the end of Thanksgiving Weekend. Order $25 restaurant certificates for $3. They are on sale for $10 and promo code THANKS makes them $3. This is a real steal and gets you out to try a new restaurant. Great gifts for the holidays!

Swag Bucks

Earn rewards for just searching online.

Fleurville Sale

Check out the discounted bags at Fleurville and there three day sale

Dinner Menu Ideas

Monday- Wraps (Saffron Rice, Cheese, Beans- Veggie, Spinach) & Split Pea Soup

Tuesday- Hamburgers & French Fries

Wednesday- Burritos & Fish Tacos

Thursday- Meatballs & Spaghetti Squash

Friday- out

Sat- Leftovers

Looking for Travel Deals

Several people have asked about finding good deals on Travel Tickets. I think the Best nights to find deals are Tuesday Evening to Wednesday. And you have to be willing to jump on the deals. Last week Delta had a sale on Tickets from Baltimore to Los Angeles for $177 (including taxes).

I have customized searches set up on a handful of sites that let me know of the regular places I need to Travel (Los Angeles, Florida) and also the dream locations (London, Spain, Israel, etc.)

Here is a list of the places I use:
Travelocity
Airfarewatchdog
Fare Compare
Airline E-mails
Southwest Ding Alerts