Tech Tip: "Reboot and Pray"

Your computer isn’t connecting to the internet.  “Why is this happening?!?”  You click on “Diagnose Connection Problems” and its no help.  You’re about to call your internet provider’s tech support.  Don’t do that.  Try this first.  It is so simple; you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it before.

Troubleshooting a Network Problem at Home

Step 1:  Save your work and shut down your computer.  Oh, you never turn off your computer?  Well, trust me, it’s a good idea to give the poor machine a break from time to time.  Shut it down properly.

Step 2:  Turn off your router.  And your modem (if you have two separate pieces of hardware).  I typically will just unplug these devices.

  

Step 3:  Everything is off now?  Good.  Turn on your modem.

Step 4: Turn on your router.

Step 5: Now, turn on your computer (See what you are doing here?  Turn everything back on from the wall to the keyboard…that’s a good way to remember.)

Step 6: Give your computer time to load up.  Don’t be impatient and start clicking around.

Step 7: See if you have internet connectivity.  If you do, celebrate.  If you don’t, let’s look for other “simple fixes” before we sit on hold for 45 minutes to talk to outsourced tech support…

Simple Fixes:

1. Make sure all cables are attached.  (Wired connections)
2. Make sure the wireless switch is turned on (laptops)
3. Make sure the modem/router is ON.
4. Did you pay your bill?
5. Check another device to see if THAT gets a connection. (Hint: enable Wi-Fi on your phone and search for the network.  If you can connect, but your computer still won’t, then it’s likely a problem with your computer’s settings…)

All other advice I have is for specific operating systems, and you can Google that on your phone. (example searches: Windows 7 no internet connection, Windows XP not connecting to internet) 

Other things the “Reboot and Pray” method works for:

(Unplug or remove battery if possible)

A cell phone that is not getting signal when it should

A cell phone that is not sending/receiving messages

Your cable box/satellite receiver

Gaming Systems

Mp3 players and iPods

Hide Your Veggies! Wednesday Weeknight Meal

I never thought about hiding veggies in anything until my veggie-loving baby turned into a veggie-shunning toddler!  So, here’s a way I sneak some veggies in so that the little man (and Daddy) get some extra veggies in, courtesy of Mom.

Ok, so this is a simple recipe for homemade pasta sauce that can be thrown together pretty quickly and freezes well.  I’ve frozen it in Ziploc bags to lay flat in the freezer and defrost quickly, but everyone has their preferences.

Oh, by the way, I rarely keep track of recipes – I’m a little reckless in the kitchen sometimes.  I do something a little bit differently each time I cook something.  Cooking with your heart (and your taste buds) makes life more fun and you will usually end up pleasantly surprised!  So there isn’t much “exactness” to this recipe but you get the general idea.  Plus, pasta sauce is pretty simple and a little variation won’t hurt it.  Play it by ear.  Taste it along the way, and adjust.  Think outside the recipe.

Easy Homemade Pasta Sauce (with Secret Veggies)

Ingredients:

1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
1-2 lbs. ground beef (or turkey, if that’s more your style)
½ onion, chopped (optional, add more or less to your taste)
1-2 tbsp. minced garlic
2 big cans diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1-2 cans chicken broth
2 cubes beef bouillon
Italian spice blend
Veggies to hide:
- Carrots
- Zucchini
- Sweet Potato (I haven’t done this yet, I always add just carrots and zucchini)
- Peppers (also want to try "hiding" some sweet peppers)

Directions:

Heat the oil in a frying pan.  Brown the meat with the onions and garlic, add Italian spices while cooking.  Drain the oil.  You don’t want greasy sauce.

Grate the veggies.  Smaller is better.  If you add zucchini, you may want to peel it first if you have really picky eaters that scour their food for veggies.

Empty the cans of tomato into a big pot on the stove on medium heat.  Add your meat and veggies, stirring.  Cover. Wait a few minutes.

Add tomato paste, stirring more.  Now add chicken broth.  Start with 1 can.  Stir.  If your sauce looks too thick, add a second can.  If it seems watery now, don’t worry, it will thicken as it cooks more.

Add the beef bouillon cubes.  My mom says this decreases heartburn associated with eating red sauces.  I tend to agree with her.  You can also add additional spices, salt, and pepper here.  I don’t add salt, just a personal preference of mine.

Sauce should be hot and bubbly now.  Lower the heat and cover, simmer for about 30 min, stirring occasionally.  (I use this time to cook my pasta.)

DONE!

Serve over pasta.  Freeze leftover sauce for an easy dinner next week.  Smile as you watch your family eat veggies.

Monday Mom Tip - Labeling for Daycare

If you have never sent your child to daycare, you need to put their name on everything.  And if it is a food item or a drink, it needs to be labeled with the date as well.  Now I see the value in this, but I'll tell you it is a pain.  I was clueless during my son's first week at daycare.  I put masking tape on his sippy cups with his name and the date.  I wrote his name in sharpie on everything.  And each night I removed the tape or labels, scrubbed off the sharpied date, and wrote over it the next morning.  Painful.  I started thinking - what do I need?

Ideally, I need a sticker with my son's name on it and a space that I can write and re-write the date.

Does anyone make this?  I started looking all over the internet.  I didn't even know what to Google.  

Then I found it.  Name Bubbles Write On labels!  Click here!

photo from the namebubbles.com website

I can't rate this product highly enough.  The set is customized and comes with 2 different markers.  I love the labels I created for my little guy, and they've held up well over the past 8 months or so.  WAY better than masking tape or just using sharpie on everything.  

Big Game Treats

I feel the need to explain myself before I go forward with this post.  My football team is the Packers.  When they got eliminated this season, I naturally had to pick another team to cheer for.  I'm not sure about everyone else, but I want the team that knocks my team out of Superbowl contention to win it all.  (Yeah, it probably helped that I am in love with a Niner fan).  So naturally, I had to make San Francisco 49er Superbowl treats.  I made jersey cookies and Niner cupcakes to bring to the party we were going to.

Sports Jersey Cookies

What you need:
refrigerated sugar cookie dough
large Ziploc bag
Wilton no-taste red food coloring paste (or whatever color you are going for...)
flour
Rolling pin
Wilton cookie icing (I used white)
Cookie cutters (I have a sports pack by Wilton)

Directions:

1. Let the cookie dough sit out until it is no longer firm
2. Put dough into a large Ziploc bag (skip this step if you want to permanently stain your hands)
3. Add food coloring and mix well (not easy, be patient)
4. Return to fridge until firm again (I waited about 3 hours)
5. Remove from bag, place on floured surface to roll out very thin and cut into shapes
6. Bake according to instructions on sugar cookie packaging
7. Let cool completely, then add icing!

Roll dough thin for best results.  Use as much flour as necessary!

I chose numbers based on the best players, but you can go random if you like.

Now, for the cupcakes!!

I asked my man, "what kind of special cupcakes should I make?"
I gave him several options.
He said, "Oreo. Those go best with beer."
I never would have known that, so I ran with it.  Saw a few recipes, didn't like em.  Went with my own.

Cookies and Cream "Kaep-cakes"

What you need:
Box of white cake mix
Whatever the box says you need
1 package "doublestuf" Oreos
1 package regular Oreos
Cupcake liners - team color!
large Ziploc bag
Cupcake icing (Betty Crocker Cupcake Icing "Cloud White" is perfect, though Pillsbury Vanilla Dream is good too)
Wilton color mist (food color spray - I used Gold)
Optional Decorations (I used leftover red cookie dough, baked a football, and tiny squares with the QB's number on half,  team logo on the other half)

Directions:

1. Get all of your ingredients together
2. Put the liners in your cupcake pan
3. Open the Doublestuf Oreos, and remove half of each cookie 
4. Put the cookie half with cream at the bottom of each cupcake liner, cream side up
5. Discard the the cream-less cookie, you don't need it.
6. Take the ENTIRE package of regular oreos, and crush them up in the big Ziploc bag.  
7. Begin mixing the cake batter, following the instructions on the box
8. Stir in the crushed cookies
9. Pour into cupcake liners (about 2/3 full)
10. Bake according to directions on box
11. Let cool completely
12. Use the cupcake icing to frost each cupcake
13. Spray with food color spray
14. Garnish with optional decorations
15. ENJOY!

I didn't tell anyone at the party that these cupcakes had Oreos in them, but news traveled quickly!

Balancing this Busy Life

Obligatory introductory blog post.  Go.

Have you ever looked around and realized just how much you do?  Counted how many different things you are responsible for?  The title "mom" really encompasses so many jobs that we do on a daily basis.  Sometimes effortlessly, sometimes with a little sweat and elbow grease, we always get the jobs done.  Because if we don't do it, who does?  We are the "jacks of all trades" in the parent world...and that's why I'm writing this.

So, here's the idea and structure for my blog.

Monday Mom Day: ideas for busy moms, organization tips, mommy time-outs
Toddler Tuesdays: toddler activities, toy reviews, teaching tips
Wednesday Weeknight Meals: recipes, meal planning, healthy family meals
Thursday Tech Tips: how-tos for common tech problems
Fit Fridays: workouts, motivation, playlists
Grab-Bag Saturday: random post
Sunday Fun Day: day trip ideas, family fun, date nights, vacation ideas

I can't say that I'll be posting something EVERY DAY, but I'm going to try to stick with this theme.  And I can't promise that hilarious pictures of my kid won't pop up from time to time.  I am a proud mom of a hilarious 2 year old, what can I say.