Now that Riley is getting older, I am much more concerned with how healthy we, as a family, are eating.  Meat is a great source of protein and so we include a serving of meat every day in Riley's diet.

Of course, preparation is key in determining how healthy any food really is and so I was very glad to have the opportunity to try out The Next Grilleration Removable Plate Grill from George Foreman Healthy Cooking.  I haven't found the George Foreman grills of the past easy to clean, so I was intrigued at how this one would work.  Does it live up to the hype?  Keep reading to find out!

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Now that back-to-school is officially here and autumn is just around the corner, it's time to start looking ahead to what our winter wear will be this year.  Since kids grow like weeds, they can rarely wear the same coat two years in a row and my little tumbleweed is no exception.

Eddie Bauer is a brand that has been keeping both Michael and me warm for years and our closets contain many of their well-designed coats and jackets.  So, I was thrilled to learn that Eddie Bauer has many well-designed and stylish outerwear options for children too.  I couldn't wait to outfit Riley with the Girls' Downlight Sweater and Eddie Bauer generously obliged.  Keep reading to learn more about one of this fall's must-haves!

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This summer has been one of the most hectic for me in recent history.  My husband has been working two jobs and I've been busy caring for our daughter during the day, then running a blog and two small businesses at night.  Whew!  :whew: To say that I need a terrific evening out with no worries, just relaxation and fun, is a definite understatement.

That's why I'm thrilled to have the chance to let my hair down and go out with my husband for an unforgettable night at Ruth's Chris Steak House!  Ruth's Chris is the place that showed the world how great a steak can be.  Their steaks are carefully selected and aged for tenderness, then cut thick to ensure juiciness.  Seared to perfection at 1800 degrees and seasoned simply with salt, black pepper and a touch of parsley, because a steak like this needs nothing else.

On Thursday, August 23rd, Ruth's Chris Steak House will be pairing with Wine Enthusiast magazine to bring you a phenomenal night of 90+ rated wines and great food.  Treat your senses to a tasting of some of the world's finest wines carefully selected by the editors of Wine Enthusiast magazine.  Attendees will get to sample five amazing wines, as well as delight in a 5-course meal that includes the following:

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Back to school is a special time for children (and parents) each and every year.  It's filled with fun and anticipation of what this new year of learning will bring.  Unfortunately, attending school can also be fraught with hardships and uncertainty too.

Thanks to bullying and various scholastic difficulties, children can at times dread going to school, although learning to overcome these challenges is just one of the things we must all face on our road to becoming an adult.  During times like these, it might make both you and your child feel better to send them on their way with a little token of protection and love.  That's where PicturesOnGold.com comes in...

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In today's high-tech world, it's easy to fall into the trap of buying toys which I call "press and perform" toys.  In my opinion, these are some of the lowest value toys out there, for when you "press" a button, they "perform", requiring zero imagination or creativity on the part of your child.  The problem is, these toys are awfully alluring and most kids flock to the animation, music and flashing lights these toys provide.

Personally, I love it when Riley plays with toys which are 100% kid-powered, meaning that the fun factor is 100% dictated by the child.  She has a million different toys like this, but dolls always seem to be her favorite, hands-down.  That's why I was happy to learn of a whole new set of Polly Pocket playsets from Mattel which incorporate suction cups into the fun!

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One of the coolest things I've ever had the chance to witness was Riley learning how to walk.  To be honest, I was a little concerned about her motor development at first, because when she crawled, she only went BACKWARDS!  :rofl:  Obviously, backing up everywhere she went got old in a hurry, which meant that Riley was quick to transition from the crawling stage to the walking stage.

It was so neat watching her take those first wobbly-legged steps all on her own and the look of sheer joy on her face as she realized she was accomplishing something BIG!  Within weeks, Riley was scooting about and exploring her brand new world, on her own terms.  She soaked up this independence like a sponge and tried so hard to take it all in.

Those early moments of exploration though are often very scary for the parents.  I can remember watching Riley like a hawk and cringing anytime she would get to putting one foot in front of the other too quickly, building up speed.  A fall was usually imminent and although I wanted her to soak in everything her new world had to offer, I of course wanted to keep her safe first.  That's why Joovy invented the Greenie Spoon Walker.  Keep reading to learn more about the combination high chair/walker that will have your child navigating on their own in a fun and safe manner!

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