This week on MommaJam, we are talking about the “Green Clean” book, a great resource guide for cleaning with non-toxic products in your home, Red Velvet cupcakes for Valentine’s Day and Star Wars in 3D.

Green Cleaning

Have you ever wondered what you should do with cleaning products under your kitchen sink if you decide to really “go green?”  In some cases you should take the products to your local Haz Mat station to dispose of them.  Crazy!  We actually clean our homes with some of these products.

“Green Clean” co-author Linda Mason Hunter suggest using them up and never buying them again.  Or,  donate them to a place that needs stringent cleaning supplies.

The best cleaning ingredients are baking soda and distilled white vinegar.  Every one has these two items in their pantry.  A third item is vegetable-based soap, which comes as a solid bar or in liquid form.  There are easy-to-make recipes in “Green Clean,” which is a great book to reach for whenever you have a question about green cleaning.  It’s thorough and addresses every room in the house.  Look for tips on cleaning stains, different kinds floor surfaces, laundry, and more.

Go to HunterInk.com for more information or Amazon.com to buy the book.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet cupcakes are the rage this year.  There’s a great website, called The Dusty Baker ,which has gluten free, dairy free red velvet cupcakes.  Moms with food allergy kids can still have fun with the Valentine’s Day holiday or make these delicious cupcakes anytime of the year.

After making Red Velvet cupcakes with a traditional recipe over the weekend, we discovered that you need to add more red food coloring and less cocoa to get that rich red batter.  If you add too much cocoa, the cake comes out  brown not red.

Star Wars in 3D – It’s Here!

Star Wars Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace 3D opens Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.

This is a great time for new generations to see this amazing saga on the big screen.  While the 3D effects are not as punchy as movies designed in 3D from the get go (think Avatar), it’s still fun to watch and the story is as enchanting as ever.  I also like that kids today can watch the movie and storyline unfold from the beginning (versus those of us from the 1970s and 1980s who had to watch the last three episodes, then the first three episodes.  Although, waiting for the first glimpse of Darth Vader’s parents was pretty cool).

Of course, the fact that most families own the entire series on DVD or can rent it dilutes the drama of seeing a movie for the first time, but there’s nothing like a dark, loud movie theatre to heighten your entertainment experience.

Go to Starwars.com for more information.

The next MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM is Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 at 7:10 a.m. ET.

You can like MommaJam on Facebook and follow on Twitter.  Write in to tell us what you want to hear!

Get MommaJam on the go with iTunes.

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Today at MommaJam, we interviewed Linda Mason Hunter, co-author of “Green Clean,” a step-by-step guide to cleaning your home with non-toxic, eco-friendly products.

This gorgeously-styled books comes with tips for cleaning every room in the house, recipes for easy, inexpensive green cleaning concoctions, safe ways to recycle, and much more.

If you’re ready to “go green,” but are unsure about how to get started or what to do with products under the kitchen sink, listen to this podcast interview with Linda.  She gives great advise on how to dispose of traditional, possibly toxic cleaning products.

Linda also suggest three basic ingredients to make your home sparkle:  baking soda, distilled white vinegar and vegetable-based soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap – Lavender, which you can find for about $17 at Target.com.  Linda also talks about the pros and cons of Borax, an old-fashioned, yet now controversial green cleaning product.

Click arrow above to hear the Green Clean interview.

For more information and to buy the book online, go to HunterInk.com.  Also check out Earth911.org.

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“Topographically, the stuff functions as an archeological image of the child’s commercial life so far: the deeper you dig, the earlier the toys.”  Chapter Three: Environment

- Simplicity Parenting by  Kim John Payne, M. Ed., with Lisa M. Ross.

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Tune in as Morning Show hosts Rob Hakala and Lisa Azizian talk with MommaJam about ways to keep it simple.

1.  Adopt the less is more mantra for kids.

2.  Check out the book Simplicity Parenting – it’s a great guide for raising calm kids.

3.  Plan a simple dinner.  This week on FOOD TUESDAY, I’ve included a review of Artichoke Pasta Sauce and Tuscan Vegetable Soup from Pastene.  Both are super easy, super simple to prepare.  Reheat and serve right out of the jar.

4.  Take a quiet moment at Coffee Break Cafe in Quincy.   Each month, the cafe features a drink flavor of the month.  January was Red Velvet, which was so popular, they kept it for February (ties in nicely with Valentine’s Day).  There are three Coffee Break Cafe locations in Quincy with one at Wollaston Beach.  At the downtown Qunicy location, Big Joe hosts story time with kids every Thursday at  10:30 a.m.  Go to CoffeeBreakCafe.net for more information.

5.  For Simple Style, check out L’Oreal’s new eye shadow make up that helps moms to look glamorous in two seconds.  Love this make up!  The line is called HiP Studio Secrets, Professional Metallic Duos – two great colors in one pack.  You can get them at Target for about $6 each in a huge range of color selections:   Gilded, Magnetic, Shocked, Electrified, Energized and Charged.  Perfect for moms!

The next MommaJam in Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 at 7:10 a.m. ET.

You can like MommaJam on Facebook and follow on Twitter.  Write in to tell us what you want to hear!

Get MommaJam on the go with iTunes.

• MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM: 5 Questions with MommaJam
• MommaJam on 95.9 WATD-FM: 3 Tips to De-clutter Your Home, Pantry, Kids!
• Simplicity Week at MommaJam

Here’s are 5 Questions with MommaJam about what it’s like to do a live radio segment and the behind-the-scenes fun involved:

Q.  Why is live radio a great medium to reach moms?

A.  I love the spontaneity of live radio.  For any mom listening to MommaJam, you instantly feel the positive energy between Rob, Lisa and myself.  We laugh a lot.

Q.  What topics do you cover?

A.  MommaJam covers what I call MOP Culture, which is Mom Pop Culture.  We look at every thing from cooking and fitness to fashion and entertainment.  One of my favorite segments is called, “FOOD, FASHION & FUN,” during which Rob cracks me up with his Kermit impersonation, but I’m not supposed to tell people it’s Rob.  It’s really Kermit.  He was in the studio that day.

Q.  Speaking of the studio, what’s it like in there?

A.  It’s crazy fun.  I love it!  I go into the studio during the summer.   It’s easier to play off each other when you’re in the same room, but we have a great rapport when I call in, too.  I just might talk faster when I call in – the segment zooms by before I know it.

Q.  What’s it like working with Rob and Lisa?

A.  Rob Hakala and Lisa Azizian are true professionals.  They make MommaJam so much better.  Rob usually gives the coveted guy’s POV and Lisa and I tend to bond on the girl’s POV.  Two against one, but in the end, we all get along and give a balanced view of the topic.

Q.  What’s coming up for MommaJam and 95.9 WATD-FM in 2012?

A.  We have some great topics planned for 2012, and more giveaways for listeners.  I love doing giveaways, because it helps us connect with the audience and it makes the show more real.  I’m not just talking into a microphone for five minutes, but communicating ideas and relating to other moms out there.

To hear MommaJam live from Boston’s South Shore, plant the radio dial on 95.9 WATD-FM every other Thursday at 7:10 a.m. ET.  You can also listen live from your computer by going to the station’s home page and clicking “Listen Live.”

The next MommaJam in Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 at 7:10 a.m. ET.  You can like MommaJam on Facebook and follow on Twitter.  Write in to tell us what you want to hear!

Get MommaJam on the go with iTunes.

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Reblogged from A Girl, A Style:

I recently did an easy tutorial for glittery nails over on The Glitter Guide, but as it has been such a constant in my winter beauty regime thus fur, it makes sense that I share one on here too. On grey and wintery days or during the holidays when you want your fingers to look as pretty as the decorations on the tree and the fireworks in the sky, there is nothing quite like the glint of glittery nails peeking out from a coat. Get experimenting with the adorable glitter polishes that much to our delight …

Try Pastene’s Tuscan Vegetable Soup, which is hearty and delicious.  It does not taste like it’s from a jar and heats up fast.  Serve with crusty bread and you have a meal in minutes.

If you’re kids want pasta packed with flavor, extra nutrition and fiber, try Pastene’s Artichoke Pasta Sauce.  Reheat and serve over your favorite shells or spaghetti.  This tomato sauce passed the “kids taste test” in our house and is now a go-to sauce for instant lunches and dinners.  It’s even great for families who usually make their own sauce.  It’s that good!

Go to Pastene.com to find a store near you with Pastene’s wide selection of ready-to-serve imported Italian products, as well as specialty Italian ingredients for an authentic meal.

Mangia!

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When you simplify a child’s “world,” you prepare the way for positive change and growth.

   - Kim John Payne, M.Ed., with Lisa M. Ross, Simplicity Parenting.  

This week at MommaJam is all about simplicity.  

We’ll talk about:

Simple cooking on FOOD TUESDAY

Simple living with your kids

Simple playtime

Simple style tips for moms

Simple fun for the family

Stay tuned for a great week at MommaJam.

On Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012, listen to MommaJam live at 7:10 a.m. ET on 95.9 WATD-FM.

Let us know what makes your life simple and happy.

This week on MommaJam with 95.9 WATD-FM, we talk about getting rid of old stuff around the house, cleaning your pantry and refrigerator, and feeling renewed for 2012.

Here are 3 tips to help you get it done:

1.  Check out a cool, new company called thredUP that lets you trade clothes, toys and books with other moms online.  This is a great service for when your kids outgrow Star Wars, but are then into Pokemon or love GAP.  Go to thredUP.com to learn more about how to start trading with other moms and join the thredUP community.

2.  FOOD TUESDAY this week is all about organizing your pantry and refrigerator.  Get rid of old and moldy food that’s expired.  Make lunch and dinner with ingredients you already have.  Right now, Americans toss about 25 percent of their groceries each year.  Ouch!

3.  Clean your office, work space or family nerve center.  Clean up the holiday mess and get organized.  Recycle what you should pass on and toss the rest.

In the end, you’ll feel better and live a happier life.  Smile!

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