The Mod Mommy

Babyfood making class coming this July!

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on May 14, 2012 No comment

This summer I’m teaching a baby food making class through The Learning Connection in Rhode Island, and we have solidified a date and location for the class.

Sign ups are available now through The Learning Connection’s website. The class will hopefully fill up fast, so if you know any parent that would love to learn how to cook wholesome, organic food for their little one, this could make for a great gift!

Here’s my course description:
Have you ever wondered what exactly is in store-bought, jarred baby food? Do you wish you knew how to make your own baby food, but don’t know where to start? Meet local mom Courtney Caligiuri and learn her kitchen-tested techniques for making healthy and delicious organic baby food.

Courtney will teach you about the benefits of homemade food for your little ones and your wallet, while you cook along with her using simple recipes.

At the end of the class, you will have a week’s worth of food for your baby.

What:
Making Homemade Baby Food: Your Baby & Wallet Thanks You!

When:
Saturday, July 14, 2012
10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Where:
St. Martin’s Church
Classroom: kitchen
50 Orchard Avenue
Providence, RI 02906

Cost through The Learning Connection:
Non-member Fee: $29.00 Member Fee: $25.00 Materials Fee: $15.00

I’ll let you in on a little secret…I plan on making what used to be my daughter’s favorite. It’s a lovely butternut squash dish called Chloe’s Pumpkin. Your baby will love it!

Click here to sign up!

Cook with me! Learn how to make your own baby food

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on April 24, 2012 No comment

I have some exciting news to share. Beginning in July, I’m going to be teaching a baby food making class with Rhode Island-based Learning Connection for new parents or grandparents.

I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to share techniques I’ve learned while cooking for my daughter. The first class is July 14th in either Cranston or Providence. Sign ups are available beginning in May!

Here’s my course description:
Have you ever wondered what exactly is in store-bought, jarred baby food? Do you wish you knew how to make your own baby food, but don’t know where to start? Meet local mom Courtney Caligiuri and learn her kitchen-tested techniques for making healthy and delicious organic baby food.

Courtney will teach you about the benefits of homemade food for your little ones and your wallet, while you cook along with her using simple recipes.

At the end of the class, you will have a week’s worth of food for your baby.

I will keep you all posted as we get closer to the date, but if you or someone you know would love to make their own baby food, this is a great place to learn.

Here’s a peek at a story I’ve done on the benefits of homemade baby food. Check out my mini-demonstration seen on The Rhode Show.

BHBC review: Geneen Roth’s “Lost and Found”

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on April 12, 2012 No comment

First off, let me start by saying I love to read. However, I love to read particular books on specific subjects. Recently in conversation I said “I love reading fiction, I’m not such a fan of true story stuff.” AKA non-fiction.

The next book waiting for me to jump in to was Geneen Roth’s Lost and Found. And true story it was. So true, that it scared the daylights out of me.

I wonder if it scared me because of what it was about. The author details how she and her husband, along with several friends, lost their life savings to Bernie Madoff, and then what happened after as a result.

Money talk is always interesting, because I’m sure most of us have heard that it’s one thing that should not be discussed publicly. People are funny with money. Period.

Geneen is so honest about her habits and relationship with money, it really got me thinking about how I deal with my own finances. I by no means use money to make myself feel better, but I’d be lying if I said I’ve never gotten a thrill out of a purchase.

From the very first page, readers will join Geneen on a journey that will take you through how she gained freedom from old patterns, to how she learned to sustain a healthy life.

She tells her very personal story with humor and years of wisdom. It’s not a book full of advice, but a book full of countless stories.

If you read it, I’m positive that it will definitely get you thinking. And for me, that’s step number one.

Disclosure: I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

Bean patties for baby and the rest of us!

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on March 15, 2012 1 comment

I had the chance to meet and spend some time with Maria Menounos when she appeared on a television show I was working on, and she made the most amazing bean patties that episode!

These same bean patties are also featured in her book, “The EveryGirl’s Guide to Life”.

I finally decided to make them the other night because I was out of ideas for what to feed Chloé, my 19-month-old, for dinner. I happened to have all of the ingredients in my pantry, so I figured why not try it?

It turned out Chloé loved the bean patties! And of course, so did my husband and I. We ate the leftovers with our fish. Win win!

Bean Patties
Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients:
Two 15-ounce cans white beans, drained and mashed
2 small red onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbs. diced and seeded hot green peppers
1 Cup breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper, to taste
½ cup olive oil

Optional:
Hot pickled vegetables to taste, chopped
(I added some hot pickled vegetables in my bean patties. You can find it in the grocery store near pickled peppers and artichokes.)

Steps:
Mix all ingredients (except oil) up to and including the salt and pepper together in a medium-size mixing bowl.

Form the bean mixture into patties.

In a large frying pan heat the olive oil over a medium flame.

Fry the patties on each side until golden brown.

Giveaway from The Honest Company: Win a one-month supply of eco-friendly family essentials!

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on March 14, 2012 23 comments

I am so excited to offer this fantastic giveaway from The Honest Company! Many of you know by now, their products are my new obsession, and now I can get to share the love with one lucky Mod Mommy reader!

The contest is open from Wednesday, March 14 to Wednesday, March 21. One winner will be chosen at random to win this awesome bundle!

Winner will receive a one-month supply of non-toxic body care and household cleaning products for your entire family. Package includes Honest Shampoo, Body Lotion, Hand Soap, Healing Balm, and Laundry Detergent. ($35.95 value)

It’s really easy to enter, just comment below and tell me which Honest product you’re excited to try.
Read more »

The Honest Company Giveaway Rules

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on March 14, 2012 No comment

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.

1. How To Enter: Promotion begins at 12:01 a.m. EST on March 14, 2012 and ends at 12:01 a.m. EST on March 21, 2012. To enter you must enter a comment saying which Honest Company product you are excited to try. One winner will be chosen at random. All entries must be submitted by 12:01 a.m. ET, March 21, 2012, when the promotion ends.

2. Participation: Promotion is open to legal residents of all 50 States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older. Employees of The Mod Mommy, participating hired bloggers and The Honest Company are not eligible to participate. This promotion is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void in Puerto Rico where restricted or prohibited by law.

3. Winner Validation: Winners will be selected after the entry period from all valid entries received. Winners will be selected randomly by The Mod Mommy using http://www.rafflecopter.com as a selection tool. All decisions of The Mod Mommy are final. By entering, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and all decisions of the judging organization. Winners will be notified by email sent by modmommy.com via courtneycal@gmail.com within 48 hours of contest end and will have 24 hours to confirm receipt of the email. If the winner does not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be selected. All submissions become the property of the The Honest Company and can be used in advertising or otherwise without any compensation to entrants. Winner agrees to permit The Mod Mommy and the The Honest Company to use her or his name, voice, photo, or likeness for reasonable promotional and marketing purposes for up to 90 days after the end of the Giveaway.

4. Prizes and Odds: One (1) Prize: Winner will receive a one-month supply of non-toxic body care and household cleaning products for your entire family. Package includes Honest Shampoo, Body Lotion, Hand Soap, Healing Balm, and Laundry Detergent. ($35.95 value). No transfer, assignment, cash redemption or substitution of prize is permitted. Prize Winner is responsible for all taxes on prize, if applicable. The odds of winning will be based on the total number of entries at the end of the contest period.

5. General Conditions: By entering, you agree to indemnify, release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor (The Honest Company), The Mod Mommy, and their respective affiliated and parent companies, and related entities including officers, directors, employees, licensees and assignees of each; advertising and promotion agencies from all claims or damages arising out of your participation in this promotion and/or acceptance, ownership or use of any prize. The Mod Mommy and The Honest Company are in no way responsible for any technical or server malfunctions on third party websites like Twitter. The Mod Mommy and The Honest Company shall not be responsible for the interruption, delay, termination or malfunction Twitter. If for any reason any portion of the promotion is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the promotion. The Mod Mommy and The Honest Company reserves the right at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the promotion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with any entry process, and to award prizes among eligible entries not affected by the problem. The Mod Mommy will provide the name of the winner for any Giveaway, upon request, for 90 days after that Giveaway’s entry period ends.

Sponsor: The Honest Company

Reminder: Words not to say in front of your children

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on March 13, 2012 No comment

Just this morning I made a list of all of the words Chloé is saying now. I realized she is saying a ton now, so I emailed myself some of her phrases so I can document them in her baby book later today.

As I stared at the list, I scanned it to make sure the phrases were age-appropriate. And it got me thinking, Chloé is at a point now where she is repeating EVERYTHING, so we all have to be careful in what we say.

Here’s a peek at what’s coming out of her mouth these days:
Hi puppy!
Thank you
Good boy
“Iley”, yells for Riley our dog
All done
Stop
Mommy
Daddy
Good night
Bubbye
Hello
Ma-nana (banana)

And the list goes on…but it’s all adorable stuff, I promise!

Hours after I made that list I came across an article on Lil Sugar called “10 words to avoid around kids”, and I couldn’t agree with them more.

Here are the 10:
1. Hate
2. Stupid
3. Retard
4. Gay
5. Loser
6. Dumb
7. No
8. Shut up
9. God
10. Bad

Check out the entire article to see their reasons to support their list.

“Honest” review of Jessica Alba’s “Honest Co.” products

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on March 10, 2012 No comment

Now that I’m a mother I am more aware of everything. Aware of what we’re eating as a family, to what’s inside every product in our house.

So, when I heard about Jessica Alba’s new company “The Honest Company“, I was intrigued from the get-go.

The Honest Company has started a monthly service that delivers either a diaper bundle or family essentials bundle to your door. But what sold me was the fact the diapers and wipes were 100% non-toxic, plant-based, chlorine-free and more.

From what I was spending on diapers and wipes, the monthly service made sense for me.

The other products made by The Honest Company are equally as awesome. They’re either USDA organic, plant-based, biodegradable or vegan. None of the products have synthethic chemicals in them so they are completely safe!

I had the chance to test out several products, and am beyond pleased. Below is a breakdown of what I’ve tried.

Some products I was able to sample from The Honest Company

Honest Diapers: 5 out of 5
These are not your standard white diapers. They come in adorable patterns and are durable. I can count the times Chloé has leaked through them. My daughter sleeps 12 hours a night and 98.9% of the time wakes up completely dry. But, still my favorite part is the fact that they are earth-friendly and chemical free.

Honest Wipes: 3.5 out of 5
I’m being a little hard on the wipes because I feel they’re a bit smaller than what I used to use.

They are a little thin, so it’s tough when you have a messy diaper. You’ll end up using quite a few. But, the plus side is, they didn’t irritate my little one and the wipes are extremely versatile. They’re safe to wipe down a snack tray, toys or countertops. Nothing harsh found in these, just vegetable and plant extracts.

Honest Face and Body Lotion: 5 out of 5
I love this lotion! This is the first lotion I’ve ever been able to use on both my face and body. The texture is creamy, it smells great, and it can be used for both the baby and me.

Honest Healing Balm: 4 out of 5
This healing balm works well, don’t get me wrong. But, it’s a little greasy, so that’s why I gave it a 4. It’s filled with USDA organic oils, hence the greasiness. But that’s what happens with balms and that’s why they cure the roughest skin. This balm has worked on Chloé’s eczema and diaper rash. I apply it each time she gets a diaper change, and so far she’s done great with it.

Honest Bubble Bath: 5 out of 5
This smells fantastic!!! This ultra-soothing, tear-free bubble bath makes some serious bubbles. The bubble bath works great for baby and also for moms who want to take a much-needed soak in the tub. Another great product the whole family can enjoy.

Honest Conditioner: 5 out of 5
I haven’t found a conditioner I love until this one. I have fine, straight hair, so most conditioners leave my hair feeling dirty or greasy. However, not this one! This conditioner is safe for baby and color-treated hair. It smells like vanilla and leaves my hair manageable and frizzy-free. I especially like how light the formula is. I only use a little bit because of how fine my hair. This bottle will last me months I’m sure!

Honest Laundry Detergent: 5 out of 5
The Honest Company says this detergent is the purest and most effective around, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s super concentrated so you don’t need to use a lot, which will make it go a long way. There’s no chemicals in it, but it still took out a food stain on my daughter’s shirt. I’m just happy to be using an earth-friendly product that’s safe for my family and their skin.

If you’re as earth-conscious as I am than I would definitely recommend either bundle from The Honest Company if it fits your family’s needs. The Honest Company has been great to work with, and they say you can cancel your membership at anytime if you’re not satisfied.

I can’t remember the last time I was this obsessed with products from an entire line! It is very hard to find these days.

Disclosure: I was not paid for this review. I was given these free samples along with other mom bloggers by The Honest Company. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hilarious read: Diary of a Mad Fat Girl

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on March 8, 2012 1 comment

Reading has been something I try to keep consistent in my life. Even though I have an 18-month-old, and trust me, she keeps me plenty busy; I still find time to read. My latest book was a hilarious fiction novel written by Stephanie McAfee. It’s McAfee’s first book and it’s called Diary of a Mad Fat Girl.

If I immediately fall in love with a book, it doesn’t take me long to read. This book was not only fun, but fast moving. The main character, Ace Jones is a hoot, and right from the first page you feel like you are the best of friends.

Ace is a sharp-tongued, witty, no-nonsense kind of gal and you can’t help but root for her throughout the obstacles she faces in the book.

The scenarios Ace and her friends get involved with are down-right crazy, sometimes ridiculous (ie: a lot of high-tech spying and dressing in drag), but they will make you laugh out loud. All of this happens as Ace tries to right the wrongs that have visited her friends.

This books reminds me of Sex and the City, but in the south. You can almost hear the southern drawl as you rip through the pages.

One of the main reasons why I enjoyed this book is due to the characters. They are all loveable and unique. My personal favorite was Ace’s “Chiweenie” dog, Buster Loo. While he’s a small dog, he carries a large presence in the book. And I couldn’t help but think of my Lhasa Poo, Riley, while reading it.

It may still be winter, but you can escape to a warmer climate with Stephanie McAfee’s Diary of a Mad Fat Girl.

Interesting fact about the book: McAfee originally self-published this as an e-book, it was on the NY Times best-sellers list for 6 weeks before she signed a book deal. That’s pretty awesome.

Disclosure: I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review but all opinions expressed are my own.

It’s National Reading Month, so curl up with your kids and a good book!

Posted by Courtney Caligiuri on March 7, 2012 No comment

March is National Reading Month and it serves as a good reminder for families to read some new books, re-visit old ones or to step up their story-time game with their children.

Since Chloé was a baby I have made sure to incorporate reading into our everyday routine. We don’t just save it for bedtime, we’ll read in the morning, afternoon or in the bathtub! I’ve bought a couple of waterproof Elmo books that she loves, so sometimes we’ll read them there. The downside of that is, she doesn’t understand what’s waterproof and what’s not!

I enjoy reading time with her, and can’t imagine it ever stopping. Although I know, for many parents it’s difficult to set aside the time. In fact, new research reveals that a quarter of parents out-source story-time with their children to someone else and less than a third read to their little ones daily. Half of the 2000 parents quizzed said they were too tired or busy to read to their children, and that work came first.

The ‘Munch Time’ survey links the economic stress that families are experiencing to the decline of story-time.

I have to remain optimistic that even though times are tough, reading to your children should not be something that stops. It’s a great activity to not only learn, but to bond and just enjoy some downtime. And of course it serves as a great activity that doesn’t involve electronics.

The library is a great resource and offers many books for kids to enjoy.

Here are some of the books Chloé repeatedly grabs off her shelf to read:

The Noisy Noisy Farm
Overview

Wherever can Rooster be? None of the animals has heard his cock-a-doodle-doo, and they’ve slept late. Now they’re all worked up! One by one they call to him Meow! Quack! BAAAAA! Moo! but when they find Rooster, they have a Big Surprise! Children will love pressing the pages to hear the animal noises in this fun farmyard story.

Where Is Baby’s Puppy?: A Lift-the-Flap Book
Overview

Children will love lifting the large, sturdy flaps in this delightful board book, infused with Karen Katz’s signature vibrant, patterned style. Readers will encounter a turtle, a goldfish, a kitten, and more as they search for Baby’s adorable puppy—who is revealed on the final spread. The first of Karen Katz’s books to feature pets, Where Is Baby’s Puppy? is sure to become a classic!

Alphabet Mystery (this book is way beyond her years, but Chloé is learning her letters so she likes to pick out the ones she recognizes. Cute story, though!)
Overview

Little x has left, upset he’s hardly used, and the other letters set out to find him. They find x playing the castle xylophone for the mysterious Master, capital M, who threatens to turn them into alphabet soup! Some quick thinking by Little x saves the day, and soon they are all on their way home–just in time to make Mom’s birthday surprise: a cake with Little x all over. He’s the only one who stands for kisses!

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