Time to let you all in on my dirty little secret. We’ve lived in this house since it was built in September of 2006, and I just cleaned the inside of the oven for the first time last week!

Yikes.

That’s four and a half years without cleaning the oven. And y’all know how much I love to cook and bake, so it’s not like it has been sitting in pristine condition for the last few years!!

Our oven has one of those “Self Clean” buttons, and I remember thinking about using it back when The Littlest Apple was about 6 months old (so, 3 years ago!). But when I looked at the oven manual to see what I needed to do, it said that it would take 4 hours to run the self clean cycle, that you needed to open all the windows, keep children out of the house, and take any small pet birds out of the house so they didn’t die from the fumes. THAT didn’t sound too promising.

As a result, I knew I was going to have to use some good old fashioned elbow grease on the oven and some kind of oven cleaning product. The ONE time I cleaned our apartment oven during law school, the oven cleaner fumes were so strong they made me sick. None of that sounded too appealing, so I put this task off for a few more years. Until last week. Who sees the inside of the oven, anyway?! It’s been my dirty little secret.

Until now.

Here’s what my oven looked like (I can’t believe I’m showing you this!)…..

The whole thing is awful, but the door was particularly disgusting.  You couldn’t see through the window!

I finally got around to cleaning it.  I used one of my favorite new cleaning products, Shaklee Scour Off Paste:

If you remember, I used Scour Off to scrub hard water stains in my bathroom sinks.  Well, this stuff is GREAT for cleaning ovens, too!  And it smells like cherries (no strong fumes) and doesn’t irritate my skin.  Yes, you have to use lots of elbow grease, but I think that’s to be expected when you’re oven is THAT dirty to begin with.

After two rounds with the Scour Off Paste (and a good 30-45 minutes of scrub, scrubbing scrubbing), here’s what the door looks like:

Big difference, right?!  Go ahead and scroll back up to the “Before” picture one more time!  It still needs another round (or two….or three) of cleaning, but I can actually see in the door now.  Yippee!  And I hereby promise to never ever let my oven get that dirty again.

How often do you clean your oven?  Do you have a self cleaning oven?

First of all, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  I had some great crafts and St. Patty’s decor all planned out in my head…then never quite got around to making them.  Next year, next year.  One of the crafts I had in mind was based on the lyrics from one my favorite songs by Ben Folds-“The Luckiest”- which is very fitting for today, wouldn’t you say?  We almost used this song for our wedding song…probably should have!  This performance, accompanied by a full orchestra, is particularly wonderful.   I don’t get too mushy-gushy here, but I truly feel like The Luckiest!!  So I’m dedicating this to my husband, my Mr. Steady.  I love you!

And now for the ART!

We started our Spring Break a few days early since The Littlest Apple was sick at the end of last week and missed school.  He was sick enough to keep home from school, but still as energetic as usual, so we’ve had quite a few days of “active” art and other projects around the house.  I’ve seen this glue+salt+watercolor idea several places, and I thought this would be a perfect activity for him.  The three step process might be a little much for a large group of kids (depending on their age), but The Littlest Apple and I had a great time with this!

First, you squirt swirly lines of glue all over your paper (probably best to use paper that will stand up to the weight of the glue and salt and the watercolors).  Then you sprinkle salt all over the glue, shaking off the excess and making sure that all of your glue lines are covered up.  The Littlest Apple sometimes used a spoon to sprinkle salt on his paper.

Finally, you use a dropper to put small amounts of watercolors-1 or 2 drops at a time-to the salt.  Or a whole dropper full, if you’re The Littlest Apple.

Or TWO droppers at the same time, if you’re super cool like The Littlest Apple….

Now watch, as the watercolor runs across the salt and glue and stays off of the paper (unless you use too much paint…AHEM!).  We found it fun to use several colors (in this case, yellow, green, and purple because we did this for Mardi Gras).  It was neat to see the colors race to meet each other and mix together.

Here are some of our completed projects.  The Littlest Apple made 5 of them.  FIVE!  That in and of itself is a miracle.  I don’t think he’s EVER made 5 of any of our art projects.  So he did 5, and I made a few too.  I let you guess who did each one….

This is such a neat project!

Please help me in welcoming a new sponsor this month: Stella & Dot stylist Jennifer Cavorsi!  Stella and Dot’s affordable jewelry has been featured in In Style, O, Redbook, Lucky Magazine and more.  In Jen’s own words, here is how she got started with Stella and Dot:

“I loved a necklace one of my girlfriends was wearing on Facebook, and when I asked her about it she told me about Stella & Dot.  She sent me a Lookbook and I fell in love and wanted all the jewelry! I thought that there was no way I would have time to take something else on. I decided to take the leap and am so glad I have. As a stay at home mom with two boys, I missed my heels and my pretty jewelry. This gave me a reason to feel like I was doing something for myself and at the same time making money for my family. What it has turned into I couldn’t have even imagined and I am so excited to introduce people to Stella & Dot because the jewelry really is fabulous!”

I couldn’t agree more about the fabulous jewelry!  The new Spring/Summer collection is out, I’m head over heels in love with ALL of it! Here are just a few of some of the Stella and Dot pieces that I’m loving right now…

Bamboleo Necklace

Birds of Paradise Necklace

Charlize Teardrop Earrings

Glint Flower CZ Earrings

Clover Single Wrap Leather Bracelets

Signature Clover Bangle

Belle Fleur Ring

The Giveaway

You have a chance to win your very own Stella and Dot jewelry!  Stylist Jennifer Cavorsi is generously giving away this beautiful Soiree Pave Bracelet in Coral:

1) To enter the giveaway, go check out the Stella and Dot Shop or Lookbook, then leave a comment here letting me know your favorite Stella and Dot piece.

2) For an additional entry, Like Jen’s Stella and Dot Facebook Page, and leave a separate comment HERE letting me know you did that.

3) For an additional entry, Like The Picky Apple’s Facebook Page, and leave a separate comment HERE letting me know you did that.

That gives you THREE CHANCES to win!  The giveaway will stay open until Noon CDT, Thursday, March 24.  The winner will be announced on Friday, March 25.  Good luck!!

As much as I love to cook, there are some culinary tasks that I just really dislike.  Luckily, I’ve found some amazing shortcuts for each that you should know about (if you don’t already):

1.  Frozen Chopped Onions

Chopping onions is at the top of my list of hated kitchen tasks.  I’ve tried every trick in the book to keep from crying while I chop, but none of them work.  I remember one particular time I made Crockpot Beef with Onions, a recipe that called for about 6 or 7 sliced onions.  My eyes burned for HOURS after I finished slicing those onions.

So what’s a girl to do?  A younger onion hating version of myself would have simply left the onions out.  I used to do that regularly.  But I now believe strongly in the flavor a little bit of onion can add to a dish.

Enter Frozen Chopped Onions.  What a lifesaver!   Less than a dollar for a 12 ounce bag (maybe around $.80?), and worth every penny in my opinion!

2. Minced Garlic

I also really dislike mincing garlic.  It gets all sticky and leaves my hands smelling for hours.  (Yes, I know there are tricks for that too, like rubbing your hands with coffee grounds.  But then your hands smell like coffee.)  I know there is something to be said for freshly minced garlic, but that big jar of already minced garlic is a great substitute!  You can find it in the produce section.  Note of caution: I’ve also seen some teeny tiny jars of minced garlic on the Italian foods isle…that cost way more money for way less garlic.

3.  Ginger in a Tube

I LOVE using fresh ginger, but trying to peel it and grate it or mince it can be tricky.  And supposedly you can freeze whatever you have left, but I always forget when I’ve done that and buy more anyway.  I’ve found this pre-minced ginger in a tube that I think is fantastic!  You just squeeze out a tablespoon or however much you need.  Done and done.  This does have an expiration date, but I typically go through it faster than it expires.  I find this in the produce section in my grocery store.

Do you have any kitchen shortcuts that you can’t live without?

Last fall I started a series called Life With a Spirited Child.  I received tons of great feedback from these posts, but as the holidays approached, the series fell by the wayside.  I’ve missed this series, and I’ve got lots more to say (and even MORE to learn myself!), so let’s get back to it!!

In case you’re new around here, or missed the first posts, here they are.  I’d definitely encourage you to go back and check them out!

• Life With a Spirited Child-Series Intro
• The Characteristics
• Labels
• Parenting Tactics for the Trait of Intensity

image from  Jeff Sandquist via Flickr Creative Commons

Today, we’ll discuss some parenting tactics for the trait of PERSISTENCE, using the book Raising Your Spirited Child, by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka as the framework for the discussion.  (If you haven’t read this book yet, I highly recommend it!)

“The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will and the other comes from a strong won’t”–Howard Ward Beecher

Spirited children often have a one track mind.  Once they have an idea, they are extremely fixated on it.  It’s hard to get them to change their minds.  They demand more than other kids demand and they never give up.  They make it very hard to be ignored or to be distracted.

Sound familiar?

The trait of persistence is a big factor in most power struggles.  So what are we, as parents to do with these persistent kids?

1.  Say Yes

Here’s something that I’m still working on.  I tend to automatically say “NO!” to The Littlest Apple, which, as you guessed, leads to lots of battles.  Many of which are unnecessary!  It’s time to look for ways to say yes more often!  A few days ago, The Littlest Apple wanted to move his sand out of his sand table and put it in his wheelbarrow.  In the past when he’s asked this, I said no.  But why?  Simply because I didn’t want to deal with the mess.  This time I said yes, and The Littlest Apple worked busily on shoveling and moving sand and carting it around in his wheelbarrow for 30 minutes.  Yes, there was mess (especially when he dumped it all over our back patio), but it was absolutely worth say YES!

2.  Negotiation

Spirited children tend to have a hard time unlocking and moving away from their position (okay, sometimes I do too…but I have to remember that I’m the parent here), so they may need some extra encouragement in coming up with alternative solutions.  Help them brainstorm a list of alternative solutions.  I’ve also read about this tactic in How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and it makes a lot of sense.  You are empowering your kids to be problem solvers and working as a team to come up with other solutions.

For instance, if your daughter is having trouble staying in her bed and night and keeps coming in to yours, have her brainstorm some solutions that will make both of you happy.  Other solutions might include waking you up, asking for a drink, or buying her a new lamp so that she could read a book by herself if she has trouble sleeping.  That last option looks like a real winner doesn’t it?  Mommy and Daddy get to sleep uninterrupted and your daughter gets to do something she enjoys in her room quietly!  Win win!

3.  How to Deal with Persistence in Babies and Toddlers

Obviously, you won’t be able to make your home into an early childhood classroom, but you can look around and create a child-friendly environment (aka “yes environment”) that fosters peace.  Is your home a good place for little kids or a battlefield for young, energetic explorers?  Are there buttons and wires begging to be pulled?  Are children’s toys readily accessible?  The more places in your home that are child-safe and manageable, the less you’ll fight with your persistent child about staying out of things.

image from D Sharon Pruitt @ Flickr Creative Commons

4.  Persistent Parents

Do you lock in as adamantly and strongly as your kids do?  Maybe you are a persistent parent!  I am!!  And sometimes as parents, we have to be the ones to unlock first.  Time to be the adult!  So the next time you are arguing with your child about something that doesn’t matter all that much, know when to drop it or remind your child that you can work together to come up with a different solution.

5. Say No

I know I mentioned saying “yes” earlier, but there is also a time and a place to say “No.”  Spirited children (and all children) NEED confident parents who will be persistent and adamant about the basic rules and values that are most important to them.  Parents who will say “I will not let you…” “The rule is…” and “I’m going to keep you safe.”

6.  Clarify Your Rules

Keep it simple.  Don’t make too many rules and consistently enforce your rules.

Ask yourself three basic questions: 1) Is the behavior safe?  2) Is it respectful of self and others?  3) Is it respectful of the environment?

Write down your rules.  Are they clear and concise?

Use a firm voice.  Not a harsh or loud voice, but a voice of conviction that states clearly, “The rule is…. and I will help you follow the rule.”

But what if they don’t stop?  The Littlest Apple rarely stops the first time I ask him.  Our spirited kids, intense and persistent, don’t like to be stopped and have a hard time stopping.  Our insistence that they stop has to be as strong as their protests!  Our message has to be clear: “I am not afraid of your tantrums.  I am your parent and I will help you stop.  I am committed to this rule.”  For a young child, this may mean picking them up and removing them.  Offer a choice of alternate activities, and help them get started.

You can also help your child to stop inappropriate behavior by asking questions.  If your child is swinging toys around in the air while friends are over for a playdate, you might ask: “What might happen if you were swinging that when a friend walked near you?”

image from Todd Baker @ Flickr Creative Commons

7.  Consequences

Spirited children need to know that if they don’t stop, if they don’t follow the rule, there will be a consequence.  Consequences should be natural or logical.  Kids can (and should) help come up with the consequences, but this is something you do when everyone is calm.  Reminding your child of the consequences is sometimes enough to stop inapropriate behavior.  Consequences are just one tool, but they shouldn’t be the first.

8.  Balance

Easier said than done, especially when you’re battling it out with an intense and persistent child!  It can be hard to find that balance between overcontrolling and undercontrolling.  For me, I probably lean more toward overcontrolling….but every once in a while, I catch myself being undercontrolling too (usually because I’m exhausted from being overcontrolling!!).  Overcontrolling can make you feel like a drill sergeant and undercontrolling can make you resentful…like you have to walk on eggshells around your child.  Balance is about finding that middle ground where both child and parent feel like they are being listened to and respected.

Do you have a story you’d like to share about your persistent child and how you handled it?

Next in the Life With A Spirited Child Series:  Parenting Tactics for the Trait of Sensitivity.

It’s Spring Break!  What are you up to this weekend?  I’m working on a post about Spirited Children (remember that series I started last fall?), cleaning up the flower beds for spring planting, building a dress up bin for a preschool auction, painting the house, selecting games for our next Minute To Win It Party and generally trying to cram way too many things into one weekend.  Oh, and The Littlest Apple is sick and I’m starting to get that dreaded tickle in my throat too.

Some links I’m loving right now….

Scrunched Paper Printing @ Teach Preschool

My Favorite Sources of Inspiration for Getting Outside @ Go Explore Nature

Rhythm and Routines: The Flow of the Day @ Simple Kids

Natural Antibiotic Alternatives @ Modern Alternative Mama

Oatmeal Cheesecake Cranberry Bars @ Taste and Tell

Space Jet Packs @ Along the Way

Springtime Crafts for All Ages @ Motherhood Your Way

St Patrick’s Day Rainbow Slice and Bake Cookie @ goodLife {eats}

22 Tips to Get Organized This Spring @ Simple Organized Living

I’m starting to put together an inspiration board for our living room makeover now that the painting is underway.  I’m wanting blues/greens and corals, but I’m not quite sure what to put where.

We are planning to replace our dark wood coffee table with a tufted ottoman.  Better for propping feet on, and no sharp edges to worry about for the kiddos.

I love this one from Ballard.  It’s even got storage!  You can pick a Ballard fabric or supply your own fabric, which I think is awesome!

The Graham Large Ottoman (also available with storage) would probably go a little better with our existing furniture…

I also like the idea of having a square ottoman (this one also has storage!):

There are so many great fabrics to choose from!  Here are just a few that caught my eye….

Plush Dotscape Peacock

Shonnard-Thom Filica Fabric Spa (this is actually really light blue, though it is hard to tell!)

Zen Sumbrella Outdoor Parrot

Zen Sumbrella Outdoor Sky

Waverly Lovely Lattice Jungle

Waverly Ellis Turquoise

Waverly Ellis Flamingo

Premier Prints ZigZag Village Blue/Natural

Dwell Studio Bella Porte Watercress

Robert Allen Jacquard Space Age Agave

Any favorites?

As I was writing a post on the products I use for cleaning, it occurred to me that I don’t really care for my steam mop and that I need to get a new one.  Needless to say, I put that post on hold until I get this straightened out.

Do you use a steam mop?

I think steam mops in general are fantastic!  I love that I can clean my floors without any toxic chemicals.  I also really like that the floor dries a little bit quicker since it doesn’t get as wet, and that there is no sticky residue left behind by a cleaning solution.  It’s also great not to need to wring out a mop or deal with a bucket full of yucky, dirty water.  I like that I can just throw the steam mop pad in the washer and reuse it.

Here are some great resources if you want more information on the benefits of steam mops:

Steam Cleaning- Green Cleaning At Its Best @ Simple Organic

Steam Cleaner Reviews

Steam Mops: The Hot New Thing In Green Cleaning @ Tiny Green Mom

Steam Mop to Cut Water and Chemical Use @ Best Green Home Tips

Steam Cleaner Reviews @ Mrs. Clean USA

The steam mop I’ve been using is a Shark (the basic one).  It works well for quick cleans, but for really DEEP cleans or tough spots, it’s not the greatest.  You have to pump the handle to get the steam to come out.  The cord is short, and the water doesn’t get all that hot (the hotter, the better!).  Like I said, it is okay, but not great.

My plan was to write this post, get awesome suggestions from all of my wonderful blog readers, and THEN order a new steam mop.   But I got the trigger finger on Amazon yesterday, and order this Eureka 313A Enviro Hard-Surface Floor Steamer that I’ve been eyeing for a few weeks now:

4 Stars from 1,067 reviews on Amazon.  Can’t be all bad, right?  It has the longest cord (25 ft) of all the steam mops on the market, heats to 220 degrees (very hot, enough to kill lots of bacteria and pick up more dirt than many other mops), has a large water tank (larger than other steam mops), and you don’t have to pump the handle or hold down a button to get it to steam.  I’m looking forward to trying it out, and I’ll be sure to let you know if it really lives up to all the hype.

So, let’s discuss!  Do you use a steam mop?  Which one do you have?  What do you think of it?

PS.  If you told me last year that I’d soon be writing blog posts about cleaning (including my recent bathroom cleaning post featured on House of Grace!) and discussing steam mops in detail, I NEVER would have believed you!  What a difference a year makes! 

Happy Mardi Gras!  Here’s a last minute recipe for dinner tonight, that ties in with Mardi Gras nicely.  What’s more Cajun than Jambalaya?!  Jambalaya is a delicious and spicy one pot meal filled with rice, tomatoes, cajun spices, andouille sausage, chicken, and sometimes shrimp (though nobody but ME eats shrimp in this house, so I left it out).

To go with the Jambalaya, I made Oven Baked Beignets for dessert, but the beignets were a complete FAIL.  So disappointing, because I love beignets!  In the past, I’ve baked a King Cake.  Since the beignets didn’t work out, I’m going to try a different King Cake recipe today- one with cream cheese filling-  and if it works out, I’ll share it later!

Jambalaya

from Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces chicken, diced  (if you like shrimp, you could use 4 oz of chicken with 4-6 oz of shrimp)
• 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning, recipe follows
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 3/4 cup rice
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 5 ounces Andouille sausage, sliced
• Salt and pepper

In a bowl combine shrimp, chicken and Creole seasoning, and work in seasoning well. In a large saucepan heat oil over high heat with onion, pepper and celery, 3 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, Worcestershire and hot sauces. Stir in rice and slowly add broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook until rice absorbs liquid and becomes tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. When rice is just tender add shrimp and chicken mixture and sausage. Cook until meat is done, about 10 minutes more. Season to taste with salt, pepper and Creole seasoning.

Creole Seasoning

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme

This is not the first time I’ve attempted stuffed peppers, but this IS the first time I’ve actually enjoyed them!  I was drawn to this recipe because the filling ingredients, black beans, cheese, fire roasted tomatoes, cilantro, corn, and chipotle caught my eye.  Also, the ladies from Our Best Bites always have great recipes.  This recipe is actually adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, which I own, but I doubt I ever would have tried this recipe without seeing the raves about it from the Best Bites gals.  I’m looking forward to checking out their newly released cookbook!

This is a great meatless meal, one that would pair nicely with a Corn and Goat Cheese Salad with Cilantro Honey Lime Dressing.

Southwest Stuffed Bell Peppers

from Our Best Bites

Ingredients:

• 4 very large or 6 medium sweet peppers (red, yellow, or orange)
• 1 Tbs salt
• 1/2 C white rice (or  brown if you want to take the time to cook it), quinoa also works
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 – 1 jalapeno, minced (or you could sub a small 3oz can of mild green chilies)
• 1 14oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1/2-1 tsp chipotle chili powder (you can start with 1/2 and add more to taste)
• 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/4 black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, preferably fire roasted
• 1 1/4 C jack or pepperjack cheese, divided
• 3-4 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro
• tortilla chips, just a handful and more for serving if desired

Preheat oven to 350.  Prepare peppers by washing, slicing tops off, and removing insides.  Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt.   Boil whole peppers for about 3-4 minutes, until they begin to soften.  Remove from water with tongs and place on paper towels to drain.

Add rice to boiling water and cook until tender, about 13 minutes.  Drain thoroughly.

Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add onions, garlic, and jalapeno (or chilies) and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.  Add corn, beans, green onions, chipotle chili powder, kosher salt, and pepper. Stir until corn and beans are heated through, about 5 minutes.  Place peppers in a baking dish.  Remove skillet from heat and add rice, tomatoes, 1 cup cheese, and cilantro.  Stir to combine well and give it a taste.  Add additional salt, pepper, and chipotle powder to your liking.  Then evenly divide mixture between peppers.  Top peppers with remaining 1/4 cup cheese (or more if you can fit it on there) and crushed tortilla chips.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.