Practical Mum

Recipe of the Week: Delicious Black Bean Salad

Shelagh — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:29:42 +0000

Beans, beans, the musical fruit.

The more you eat, the more you toot.

The more you toot, the better you feel

So let’s have beans at every meal!!

Well, maybe not every meal. But lunch and dinner… this salad would totally be perfect. Thanks to Erin, a valued Practicalmum community member for sharing the recipe. I hope you like it – I love it!!

Delicious Black Bean Salad

House & Home magazine (August 2008)

Salad:

1 540 mL can of black beans, drained and rinsed well

1 1/2 cups raw corn kernels, drained (basically one can)

1 large or 2 small ripe avocados, peeled and chopped

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 cup green onion, chopped

Dressing:

1/3 cup fresh lime juice

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp each of salt and pepper

Incidentally, I recently made the salad without the corn and added quinoa which is quite good!

Review & Giveaway: Monkey Monkey Music with Meredith LeVande, What Are the Odds?

Shelagh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:32:58 +0000

Another great review by Amber! Thank you!

What is Monkey Monkey Music? (from the website http://monkeymonkeymusic.com/ )

Monkey Monkey Music is a children’s music program developed by Meredith LeVande, an educator and songwriter who has close to a decade of experience working with preschool aged children. Monkey Monkey Music is a continuously evolving project that’s committed to conscious and quality based music and media which puts the best interests of children first. Learning and music is a fun, joyous, experience for children, which is why Meredith’s collection of songs and live performances continuously engage both children and adults for years on end. Celebrations can be educational, and education should be fun which is why her shows, parties and programs are so successful.

Both Meredith’s live performances and simple listening experiences galvanize and unify groups of people, both young and old to “jump high”, “shake it loud,” and celebrate the topics that reference the lives and desires of young children while fostering connections between groups of people as a whole.

With a clear delivery that’s filled with expression and charm, Meredith LeVande brings elements of traditional children’s music to her original songs, which have a lively, updated sound and a contemporary kinetic energy. While she’s clearly enjoying herself, there is also a sophisticated, multi-layered aspect to Meredith’s musical compositions.

Monkey Monkey Music has performed at such venues as the Tribeca Film Festival, Victorian Gardens at Wollman Rink in Central Park, Pottery Barn Kids, Babies”R”Us, Dylan’s Candy Bar and Tarrytown Third Friday, as well as for famous NYC celebrities and such prominent parent groups as Big City Moms. It was chosen as one of New York ’s best affordable children’s performers by Time Out New York Kids, and has been featured in Parenting and on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and Preschool Radio

“PARENTING PICK! With her fresh vocals and lyrics that encourage monkey-hear, monkey-do interactivity, Meredith LeVande really gets kids moving.” ~ Parenting Magazine

Monkey Monkey Music with Meredith LeVande will release its second full-length children’s CD, “What Are the Odds?” , filled with catchy, clever, upbeat songs, on August 31^st. I was given the opportunity to review the cd in advance of its release and am very happy that I accepted.

My take:

We have a long drive into the city so I’m always searching for engaging music that keeps my daughter entertained without making me want to plug my ears by the third song. This album was such a refreshing change from the norm. It’s geared towards children ages 2-7 but I found myself grooving along to the catchy, blues themed rhythms right off the hop. Each song highlights a different activity such as clapping, counting, shaking, hopping, and dancing all while interacting with the lyrics. I was really impressed by the variety of learning concepts incorporated throughout the album. The title track What Are the Odds? had my daughter counting odd numbers which is a skill that she’s had trouble grasping in the past.

Another one of our favourites was Air Guitar, which had a great rock vibe that had us strumming along in the air with our imaginary guitars. My daughter had such a great time in the car that I decided to re-play the entire album when we got home so we could properly act out all the movements. Just as I suspected, it was even more enjoyable with lots of space to clap and jive to the music.

This CD would be fantastic for rainy days or indoor parties to get the kids moving while keeping them laughing and singing in a group environment.

To say Meredith LeVande has a clever knack for creating interactive songs full of charming melodies is an understatement. Some of her songs are jazzy and upbeat while others have a folksy reggae feel to them. Meredith’s commitment to putting “the child” back into children’s music shines through from one song to the next. We enjoyed the variety of instruments showcased throughout the album and had fun pretending to play them all while dancing around to the physical instructions in the lyrics. To sum it up – I absolutely loved it and so did my daughter!

Buy It: You can pre-order your copy of What Are the Odds? by heading to the Monkey Monkey Music with Meredith LeVande (http://monkeymonkeymusic.com/) website to reserve your copy before the August 31^st release date. Be sure to enter the Monkey Monkey Music game room while you’re there for a great variety of interactive activities and programs.

Enter to win your own copy of this fun CD. Simply visit monkeymonkeymusic.com and leave a comment tell which song cat.

For additional entries to this giveaway, you can:

1 -Post or reply to a question (as many times as you like). Leave a comment here telling me you’ve posted.

2- Become a fan on Facebook. Leave a comment below telling me you’ve signed up.

3 – Follow @practicalmum on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (once a day). (Leave me the link to your tweets below)

4 – Subscribe to our email feed (on right sidebar) – have the Practicalmum posts delivered straight to your inbox! Leave a comment telling us you’ve subscribed

Contest closes Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at 9pm EST. One winner will be chosen using random.org and contacted by email.

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Just so we’re clear: We were given a copy of Monkey Monkey Music with Meredith LeVande, What Are the Odds? for review purposes. The opinions in the review are our own and are in no way shape or form influenced. We simply say it the way we see it.

No related posts.

Nanny Share

cschemmer — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:22:18 +0000

I am looking into a nanny share. What is a suitable salary range for a prospective nanny who would be caring for two children and working for two families
Thank you,

Organic Delivery Sevice – A good idea?

Mom’s Night Out, Murphy’s Law and Bon Jovi

Shelagh — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:55:04 +0000

To this day, I don’t know what it is about him. His hair is just… bad. His teeth? Really white and really big. Not much for the leather shirt or black shiny pants. But man he has charisma. And he can sing like no other. I did kiss him after all. Didn’t you know? You can read about it here.

And his concerts? One of my favorite nights out. And his show last week? PHENOMENAL.

My girlfriend and I always go to see Bon Jovi. Every time they play in Toronto, we are there, beer in hand. We love them. Mom’s night out. Last week’s show was no exception.

Now, I haven’t been out for AGES. Like I mean… a really long time. And I now remember why.

I could wish I was a woman of moderation. Really. But I am SO not. I am either one drink OR the girl with the lampshade dancing on the table. I am either crazy healthy and slim OR super unhealthy and rotund. (My current state). You get it. I didn’t have just one beer the other night. I kind of had a few. Um. More than a few.

More Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

We got to the venue and the excitement was brewing in the air.It was awesome. And there were 30,000 people out past 7pm. Doesn’t the world know that we power down at 7pm? Oh wait. That’s just those of us with kids under the age of 4. But when you’re housebound from 7pm onwards – it’s easy to forget there is a whole world out there with a life. You couldn’t help but be caught up in the hype. And Kid Rock was opening. And the minute we got to out seats (I was surprised there was oxygen up there the seats were so high up), Kid Rock played All Summer Long which only my FAVORITE song of his.

More beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

It was super hot in the venue and a girl needs to keep hydrated. Once the show started and Jon’s magic began. I was mesmerized. Total putty in his hands. I know all their songs off by heart, and I was singing (embarrassingly loudly) along with Jon. Stand back… Mama is out on the town.

More beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

It was their best concert in years. We all know that we fans tolerate their new CDs, but really, we just wanna hear the golden oldies. Bad Medicine, Living on a Prayer, It’s My Life… and the list continues. Jon was on fire, he had 30,000 just rocking with his every word. The concert came to a close much too soon (2.5 hours no breaks – what a guy!)

More beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!

I woke up the next morning happy, hoarse, and hungover.

Not a great state to be in when the kids decide to wake up before the clock strikes 7am. And then neither would eat the breakfast they had requested. Then they both refused to wear the clothes they had chosen. And neither wanted to play at the park once we arrived (at their request). And neither decided nap that day. They nap every other day except that one. And don’t even get me started on dinner time that day. It’s Murphy’s Law.

More coooooffffffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Let me tell you that day I paid for my Bad Medicine from the night before. I was really trying to Keep The Faith. I know It’s My Life but I was on a Lost Highway… Wanted: Dead or Alive. But Raise Your Hands, I didn’t Runaway…I didn’t really Have A Nice Day. but the kids Give Love a Bad Name and you Were There For Me… and I made it. I was Living on a Prayer.

I leave you the same way Jon did the other night. Enjoy.

slow reader

olivia — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:17:22 +0000

How do I get my little man reading more? His teacher says he is a little behind and he just doesn’t ever seem keen to give it a go.

Teacher Problems!

not into sports

olivia — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:16:38 +0000

My son doesn’t seem to like sports very much but I don’t want him to grow up unfit. What can I do to maybe change his mind or just get him more active?

No related posts.

Go back to bed

olivia — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:09:44 +0000

My 6 year old is forever getting out of bed after I put him in. I am at my end with this! I need help! Any suggestions to make it stop?

stay in bed!

Baby wants in

olivia — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:08:20 +0000

I have 2 children. A boy aged 6 and a girl aged 3. When my boy’s friends come over to play my girl jumps in to play to and because she’s so much smaller then them the boys end up frustrated cause they can’t play how they want. What do I do? Is it unfair to expect the boys to include her?

No friends

good twin, evil twin…??

josie — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:52:39 +0000

I know most jokes have some kind of truth to them, like men liking sex or women being moody. So is there any truth to the whole good twin evil twin joke?

Feeding twins

josie — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 10:51:31 +0000

Will I have enough milk to feed the twins I’m expecting? Most mothers use all their milk on one baby. Am I going to have to supplement? Related posts:Self Feeding tween twins Lunches day care friendly Related posts: