A (late) Wordless(ish) Wednesday....

Yeah...... I tried it.  Cheesy?  Maybe.  Does he have the cutest face ever? For Sure.

I hope you're having a great week.

Welcome September Sponsor: Thank You in a Box!

You may have noticed a few new and fabulous looking buttons on my sidebar.  Please welcome one of my newest sponsors, Thank You in a box.....

Have you ever sat down to write a note, but couldn't find the right size envelope or first-class postage stamp or much less a black pen that worked? 

Writing a note of thanks or encouragement should not be that difficult......at least that's what Amy & Brandon from  Thank You In A Box think! Consequently, they have simplified the art of penning your thoughts with their unique Thank You Boxes. Their eco-friendly boxes keep your custom cards & envelopes (with return address pre-printed), postage stamps and a pen all in one organized spot! 

These boxes make perfect (and original) gifts for anyone who wants to cultivate and attitude of gratitude........especially mommies-to-be, hard working moms, busy brides, birthday nieces and nephews, business owners and every other kind of thoughtful note writers. 

Brandon and Amy stumbled into the business of gratitude after getting married and having babies shortly after. Needless to say, they wrote a lot of thank you notes and saw the need to organize and simplify the 'giving of thanks'! Before they knew it, they had requests from family and friends to pass along these 'organized thank you kits' to those in similar situations...................and a business was born. Come and visit them at www.thankyouinabox.com

My relationship with Bobby.

You see Bobby and I have this strange relationship.  He is such a great chef, I have yet to  find a recipe I don't like.  But him as a person?  Not so much.  Maybe it's just me, but he comes off as a bit snobby on TV.   Who is this Bobby I speak of??? The one and only, of course, Bobby Flay!


We made his Skirt Steak Tacos last night and they were "the best tacos I've ever had" (my husband).  I have never made skirt steak before so was a little nervous about making these, but everything turned out perfect.   The only thing that didn't turn out perfect are the pictures, I have none.  By the time I thought about taking one, they were gone.


The part of this recipe that makes these so amazing is the roasted tomato salsa.  It would give the local Mexican restaurants a run for their money.   Just the right amount of spice mixed with garlic, onion, cilantro and grilled tomatoes.  And of course, it is super fast and easy.  I will now be making this salsa on a regular basis.

Skirt Steak Tacos with Roasted Tomato Salsa

Ingredients

• 8 (6-inch) flour tortillas
• 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 head romaine lettuce, thinly shredded
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, halved and diced
• Grilled Tomato Salsa, recipe follows
• 8 ounces sour cream

Directions

Heat grill to high.

Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil and on the top rack of the grill while the steak is grilling.

Heat grill pan over high heat. Brush steak with oil and season with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill on one side until golden brown and slightly charred, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the steak over and cook to medium-rare doneness, about 3 to 4 minutes longer. Let rest 5 minutes then slice against the grain into 1/4-inch thick slices.

Fill each tortilla with some lettuce, 3 to 4 pieces of meat, onion, grilled tomato salsa, sour cream, and avocado.

Grilled Tomato Salsa:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for brushing tomatoes
• 2 serrano chiles
• 1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 6 plum tomatoes, halved and seeded
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Heat grill to high.

Heat oil in a small saute pan and saute the chiles, onion, and garlic until soft.

Brush tomatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on both sides until slightly charred and soft.

Transfer tomatoes and serrano mixture to a food processor; add the lime juice and salt and pepper and process until smooth. Add the cilantro and pulse a few times (there should be flecks of cilantro in the salsa.) Transfer to a bowl.

  

Goodbyn Lunchbox Giveaway!!!!!

I am finally starting to get back into the swing of things at work.   One thing I always struggle with is getting my lunch ready ahead of time.  This year I have a great new way to organize my lunch and make it look extra cool. 

Please welcome Goodbyn:

On top of being bpa and lead free and made in the USA with recycled materials, this is a super fun lunch box that will also save you money as there is no need for all those extra baggies and plastic wrap (which also means you are saving the environment... bonus!!!!!).

Most of the lunch boxes come wtih  a matching 8oz water bottle and hundreds of stickers for your kids to get creative, decorate, and make their lunch box extra special.   This is mine:

There are plenty of different sized compartments for all kinds of different snacks and lunch items (and only 1 lid – so no need to spend time searching for lids in the morning).  I am able to fit my fruit, pb & j, chips, and dessert all in one easy to carry container.  And I am the ENVY of the staff at my school.

I also have a bynto for Jack to tote his snacks when we go for a day out, or just out to dinner, he loved putting his stickers on it and even named it Thomas!  As you can see, lots of room for lots of different things.

Goodbyn even sent me some of their amazing ice packs.  The packs fit into the lunchboxes, are recyclable and made with purified water!  Now I don't even need to worry about my lunch going cold...Goodbyn thought of EVERYTHING!

The best thing they thought of, in my opinion is to give away their Strawberry Goodbyn Byntos to 2 my reader!  These have 3 compartments, an 8 oz water bottle and 100's of stickers.  They will be perfect for you or for your little one to tote to school!

{{{to enter...mandatory}}}

1.  Like Goodbyn on Facebook and tell them I sent you.  Come back and let me know you did!

{{{extra entries}}}

1.  Follow Goodbyn on Twitter 
2.  Like Just Another Manic Momday on Facebook
3.  Post about this giveaway on your blog, and let me know!
4.  Follow this blog!

Contest will end Monday September 12th at 11:59 pm.  Winner will be choosen via random.org and posted on this blog.  Winner will have 24 hours to contact me.  Good Luck!

**Goodbyn graciously provided me with the lunchboxes, stickers and ice packs, but all comments are my own. 

Boats and Bikes

So with summer winding down, we are trying to get the most out of our weekends.   Today was the perfect weather.  Clear skies, no humidity, and in the 70's......a perfect day to be in the city.

We decided to take Jack to Navy Pier to see the city and go for a boat ride.  Those of you that have not  been to Chicago have to come and see Navy Pier.  Yes it is very touristy and all that, but it is something I love to do once a year.    They have everything you could ask for....food, drinks, music, shopping, and rides.

We took Jack for a ride on the lake, and he loved it.

I love seeing how excited he gets at EVERYTHING.

We also ordered him a bike; but I have a whole post ready about the bike.  In the meantime, he is waiting....wearing his helmet.   Another one if his new obsessions..."driving" our cars.

I hope you had a great weekend, and I would love to hear all about it!  I am off to week two of work and looking forward to an awesome giveaway this week.  Stay tuned, and tell your friends!!!!

Do as I say, not as I do.

It's funny, I post my working mom meals...."Easy meals for the busy working mom!"  And they are.  But then there has been me lately.  The super busy working mom.  What kind of meals do those moms make? 

Well  in our house, super busy moms make trips to Culvers, & McDonalds.  Not the types of meals I had in mind.  I know it's just my first week of work, and I hope it will get better, but for now it's kicking my butt.

So I thought maybe my lovely readers would have some helpful advice.  What do you super busy working (or non working)  moms do for dinner?  Share your meal ideas or websites you use to stay organized, sane, and full.

TGIF, and I hope you all have a great weekend.



. 

A New Winner

So the first winner of the Beautifully Elegant Leather Bracelet never contacted me...

the new winner is....#3, Kate!

Kate, contact me at justanothermomdayblog@gmail.com

Goodbye Summer...what I'll miss..

Just some of the 1,293,381 things I will miss about Summer and Summer break.


1.  Walks around the block.

2.  Morning Starbucks trips.

3.  Pool Days.




4.  Sleeping in (a bit more than during the school year).


5.  Afternoon Popsicles.

6.  Warm Summer Nights

7.  Playing with firetrucks ALL DAY

8.  Doing nothing at all.


What will you miss about Summer?  What are you looking forward with Fall?

Beautifully Elegant Giveaway Winner!

I hope you are all having a great weekend!! I will be back in action more this week, school starts this week so I am a bit sad about summer being over.

I wanted to announce the winner of the Beautifully Elegant bracelet.

#8....Kiranda Mays!!!

Please email me at justanothermomdayblog@gmail.com within 24 hours to claim your prize and congrats!!!

Calling for September Spons

Yes, I'm doing a call out for September sponsors.  I'm sure you know, but advertising is one of the best ways to promote your blog/site/shop.   What's even better is you can see your pretty little ad every time you visit my blog!!

In case you were wondering, here is a little bit about my blog....
 

By the numbers:
Monthly Pageviews: 10,000-15,000+
Google Friend Connect: 623
{Public- 521 | Private- 102}
Twitter: 209
Facebook : 104+ { and growing!}

I have 2 large ads left for September for only $10 per month and 4 small ads left for $5 per month.
For more information click the ad/pr button at the top of the page.
Interested?  Contact me at justanothermomdayblog@gmail.com

Have a great weekend..I'll be back, I promise!

p.s. you still have one hour left to enter to win the Beautifully Elegant Giveaway...click the link at the top of my page!!!

I'm begging you!

I hope everyone's week is going well.  I am just starting out my new job so I am sorry for not being around much.

I have been nominated for Chicago's Most Valuable Blogger!   You can vote once a day by clicking here or the image above!  Help a girl out, and have a great Wednesday!

I am baffled...and a winner!!

So I have asked this a few times and I haven't gotten a response, so I thought I would try one more time as now I am starting to take this a little personally.  ; )

I have over 500 followers and ten entries in my last contest, and 1 in my current one!?!?!?   I am in shock.  Are people not reading?  Are people just not interested in contests?  I would love to hear from you.  Because if so, I will stop my giveaways!

Speaking of that.  #2 Jessica, you are the winner of the FABULOUS Pear Tree Greetings $25 gift card!  Just email me at Justanothermomdayblog@gmail.com to claim your prize!!!

And everyone else, if you're reading, enter my Beautifully Elegant Giveaway now!

Beautifully Elegant Braided Bracelet Giveaway!

I love jewlery.  To me it is the best way to change any outfit.  You can make an outfit say so much more labout you with a little jewelry.  So when I cam across Nataly's shop Beautifully Elegant, I was in love.  Lucky for me,(and you all) Nataly wanted to have a giveaway for my readers.  I asked Nataly to tell me a little bit about her and how her shop came to be, and isn't she the cutest???  Enjoy!

My name is Nataly. I am a 20-something living in the great state of Texas. I have lived here my whole life. I love it here...even though it gets unbareably hot at times. I think the high yesterday was 110-- too hot! I work in customer service at a small oil & grease company. I am also a jewelry designer, blogger, vintage lover and owl collector.

A little about my shop, Beautifully Elegant: My passion for making jewelry started back in 2006 when I was in college at the University of North Texas. After, taking a jewelry making class my first year in college, I fell in love. I loved being able to create whatever I wanted and quickly realized it was what I wanted to do for a living. Beautifully Elegant didn't come along until a few years later-- thanks in large part to my wonderful boyfriend. Beautifully Elegant start just recently in April 2011. Beautifully Elegant's main focus is unique one-of-a-kind pieces. My etsy boutique currently is selling handmade//vintage accessories inspired by nature and the desire to complete the perfect outfit. I am constantly on the hunt for new ideas and inspiration. I am always brainstorming and sketching. I am happy to talk to new people and find other friends that have the same passion for creativity as I do. I am really interested in DIY projects, baking, and jewelry making! 
4 random facts about me:
* I love gummie bears
* I would rather not wear shoes- to me they are useless (bearfoot is the way to go)
* I live in a tiny apartment with way too much stuff
* I love organizing and making lists

Nataly is graciously giving one of my readers this braided leather bracelet!

Enter to win:
 Main Entry {{mandatory}} be a follower of Just Another Manic Momday and Beautifully Elegant and leave a comment telling me so

Bonus Entries:
1. Visit B.E.'s shop and leave a comment telling me which of her beautiful jewelry is your favorite
2. Blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway and leave a comment telling me you did
{{you must leave a seperate comment for each entry}}


Contest ends Friday August 19th at 11:59pm.  Winner will be choosen via random.org and announced on my blog Saturday August 20th.  Good Luck! 

Last week

 I wish I had some Blogher news to share or some great pics from Blogher, but I don't, because I wasn't there.  Maybe next year I'll get some great company to sponsor me and I'll get there. 

This is my last full week off of work so I may not be posting much.  I will be spending as much time with my little guy playing and soaking up the last few days of summer.  I will have a great giveaway for you all, and be sure to enter my Pear Tree Greetings giveaway, which ends tomorrow, just click the link at the top of my page. 

What I do have is a great deal for those of you that may be going back to school.  http://www.campusbookrentals.com/ can save you up to 90% when you rent your textbooks through their site.  And we all know that buying books is such a waste, renting is so much better! 

What's even better is that they have partnered with Operation Smile and are donating over 1,000 life saving cleft lip surgeries this year to children in need.  Be sure to check them out if you are heading back to school, and have a great week!

Toasted Lemon Penne

 

If there was one food I could eat everyday for the rest of my life, it would be pasta. And if pasta would not make be gain one zillion pounds, I probably would eat it everyday.  It's so versitile.  It can go with everything; and there are endless possibilities of sauces. 

 

Many times while eating one of our pasta creations, my husband will say to me "THIS is the best pasta dish you've made so far".  Well earlier this week I made Giada's Toasted Penne, and it has now been given the crown of best pasta dish EVER by my husband.  I have to agree.

Now my food photography skills are not the best, this recipe tastes WAY better than it looks.   It has everything that I love...tomatoes, pine nuts, arugula, lemon and olive oil.  It is perfect for summer, I think you'll agree.  Thanks Giada!!!

 

P.S. The serving size says 4 to 6, but we ate the whole thing.  Yes a whole pound of pasta.

 

 

 Toasted Lemon Penne

 

Ingredients

 

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Pasta:

• 1 pound penne rigate pasta
• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
• 4 cups baby arugula
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and drained

Preparation

For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.

For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.

In a high-sided skillet, whisk the butter over medium heat until melted. Simmer until foamy. Continue to cook until the butter has a nutty aroma and turns a caramel color, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the pasta, dressing, arugula, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and capers. Toss until coated, adding the reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time to loosen the sauce, if needed. Transfer to a large bowl and serve.

Note: To toast the pine nuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 6 to 8 minutes until lightly toasted. Cool completely before using.