Insting Blogs

Hello friends! Here's the latest installment of weekend links that you might enjoy. Who needs the Sunday Paper with links like these.

Keeper of The Home: poured over Meg Dickey's post on  Herb Gardening 101. I'm getting ready to plant a kitchen/deck herb garden and she has a lot of good tips.

Ohdeedoh!: Forget about kids: I want a reading nook like this!

Living Locurto: Besides her fantastic mermaid printables, I LOVE Amy's sushi sandwiches idea. perfect for MTM.

So far, my journey towards eating organic locally grown foods is faring pretty well. I did have a moment this past weekend at our local farmer's market where I questioned my choices and realized I had spent more money than I wanted on not enough items.

Having been to the Farmer's Market previously with my friend Laural, I thought I would try it solo. There are pros and cons to shopping at the Farmer's Market. I definitely still need help. And to get a little bolder with my organic shopping. Look at the organic goodness that Laural walked away with.



Laural wrote a great post yesterday that sheds light on the growing trend in food products that claim they are "natural" or "organic" and how you can know what's the real deal. Remember my "organic juice box" debacle?

I'm still learning...

Everything in this week's Muffin Tin Meal is organic. Except for the kiwifruit. The kids graciously tried the kiwi fruit. It's not for everyone, but at least they tried it. I was hoping, since the kiwifruit is rich in vitamins and nutrients, that the kids might grow to like it. Did you know it has as much Vitamin C as an orange?

Last week on Facebook, I mentioned how recently I tried raw tomatoes again and I now like them.

I love reading the Muffin Tin Monday submissions each week. While Muffin Tin Meals are all about food served to kids in a muffin tin. It's fun to think outside, the, er, tin, so to speak.

Here are 4 recent Muffin Tin Meals submitted through Muffin Tin Monday that have used "alternative methods" for presentation. You might be surprised at some of them!

Feeling a little under the weather today, so I'll keep it short and sweet. For more on Muffin Tin Meals, visit past weeks or see our FAQ page.


Now it's your turn:

Here are some Fun Food posts. Enjoy!

Epicute: Strawberry and Whipped Cream Santas for "Christmas in July"

The Decorated Cookie: Like Muffin Tin Meals? How about Mason Jar Meals? Perfect for a picnic or anytime you want to change things up. {image credit above}

Lark: 'Aristocakes' King and Queen silicone muffin cups

and just for fun:

How To Be A Dad: Zombies vs. Babies

It can be hard to know if your child is getting the right amount of fruits and vegetables each day. That's one of the many reasons I love Muffin Tin Meals, the individual compartments can be filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables.

One mom has created a fun and engaging tool to get kids to eat a rainbow of fruits and veggies each day. Kia Robertson is a mom and founder of Today I Ate A Rainbow!™. Kia champions the idea that parents have the power to instill healthy eating patterns in their kids.

From the website:
"We believe that parents have the power and ability to set healthy eating habits. All it takes is some knowledge, useful tools and lots of fun!

“Today I Ate A Rainbow!™” is an interactive nutritional chart that makes eating fruits and vegetables fun for your children! This tool will allow your children to easily track the fruits and vegetables they eat throughout the day."

I love that it is a proactive approach that teaches children to keep track or the healthy habits themselves.

Included in the kit:
The colourful Today I Ate A Rainbow!™ chart
Bright cartoon magnets
The Rainbow Bunch book

Color coded shopping list


The kids loved getting to choose their color magnets and put them on the chart after each meal (I am realizing we need more fruits and veggies at breakfast time). The chart lists fruit and vegetable suggestions in each color category. The kids were quick to find their favorites and point out foods they'd like to eat more of.

You will most definitely want to watch the first episode of The Rainbow Kitchen featuring  Kia and her adorable animated daughter who you can tell loves fresh veggies and fruits. They make kale chips look not only delicious to eat, but fun to make.

Now it's your turn. Submit a photo of an MTM by clicking the blue "add your link button below. 1-2 entries per person, please and don' forget to link back to http://muffintinmom.com if you participate via a blog.

I haven't posted one of my NNFSP link love round ups in a long time. Are you still with me? I had coffee with my friend Laura. You may know her as Semper Fi Momma. She and I got to talking about life, blogging, our mutual love of pinterest, starbucks, and other stuff for 3 solid hours. It was glorious. In honor of that, here are some Starbucks craft ideas for you to get inspired.

I love Laura's framed starbucks cards art Seriously, her story about her collection is delightful.

Starbucks Bento? Oh yes there is.

A Starbucks proposal? So cute. I love all the little details.

Watermelon, green grapes, nitrate-free hot dogs, organic celery, bread with organic butter, orange slices

Muffin Tin Lunches are an easy and simple kids summer meal that requires little effort. Trying to stretch your menu until grocery shopping day? Scour your cupboards for miscellaneous foods, adding a different food to each cup and ta-da!, you have a muffin tin meal.

For more on Muffin Tin Lunches, Muffin Tin Meals and Muffin Tin Monday visit my FAQ page to see how it all began.

Happy Muffin Tin Monday Everyone! And happy Independence Day to all my American friends. In America, every year on July 4th, we celebrate our independence as a nation from England (on July 4th, 1776). We remember each year, the gift we have been given to live freely.


Now it's your turn. Don't feel you need to do a themed tin to participate. Go ahead and add your link!