Jack's Harvest

I have three kids – they are 4, 7 and 11 which means that there are very few things that they all enjoy.  I don’t work on Wednesdays and we have started a new tradition where each week a different child is in charge of deciding what our activity will be.  This has saved us untold hours of fighting and bargaining and cars that get turned around and head back home.

Here are some of our picks for the summer as well as some activities we just like to do as a group.  We would love to hear your ideas for keeping the kiddos entertained over the long, hot months of summer.

1. Puppet Shows:  This just doesn’t get old for my kids.  I have been taking Lucy since she was 6 months old and we are so lucky to have The Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.  The show are fantastic and I have at least as much fun as the kids do.
2. Pool:  Although even the pool was hot yesterday!
3. Water Parks
4. Creating a salsa garden and making our own salsa:  Just get a large pot and put a green pepper, cilantro, tomato and jalapeno plant in it.  When they get big enough you can harvest and make homemade salsa.
5. Sidewalk Chalk:  We like to create a village and everyone is in charge of one building like the library, school, houses, etc.  We draw roads to connect them and then use Jack’s matchbox cars to get from one place to the next.
6. Arts and Crafts:  No summer is complete without a trip to the art supply store to buy glue, crayons, construction paper, glitter, buttons, pipe cleaners, feathers and stickers.
7. Rock Band: ’nuff said.  I LOVE this game and will play as long as they will let me!
8. Treasure Hunts:  Hide objects around the house and leave clues.  There is no winner in my house until all the items are put back where they came from.
9. Lemonade Stand:  Not really as hard as it sounds.  I fought it for as long as I could, but it turned out to be really fun and they made some cash too!
10. Rails to Trails:  Most cities have created some sort of biking/hiking trails.  As long as we get there early enough we can beat the heat.

Send us your ideas!

Here are some great ideas to beat the heat.  Atlanta in the summer is like a pressure cooker.  Even the pool was hot this weekend.  What better to cool down with than homemade popsicles and using Jack’s Harvest, makes it even easier.

Coco Mango Pops
Add to blender: 12 oz. (1 bag) of thawed tango with mango, 1 14 oz. can of coconut milk, 1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar and 1/4 cup shredded coconut. Purée until blended.

Go Bananas with a Frozen Treat

Add to blender:  12 oz. (1 bag) of thawed Go Bananas With A Cherry, 1 cup cherry juice (grape juice or apple is great too), 1 scoop protein powder (why not?).  Puree for just a second.  Pour into popsicle molds, freeze until firm and serve.

Blueberrytastic Pops

Add to blender:  12 oz. (1 bag) of thawed  Berrytastic Banana, 1 cup apple juice, 1 scoop protein powder (why not?).  Puree for just a second.  Pour into popsicle molds and add a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries to each pop, freeze until firm and serve.

Papplesauce on a Stick

Add to blender:  12 oz. (1 bag) of thawed  Papplesauce, 1 cup apple juice, 1 scoop protein powder (why not?).  Puree for just a second.  Pour into popsicle molds and add diced apples to each pop, freeze until firm and serve.

I was asked in an interview what is the most important quality for an entrepreneur and my answer was and always will be – adaptability and the ability to roll with the punches.  The great thing about working for yourself is that you control your destiny – the bad thing about working for yourself is that there isn’t anyone else to point a finger at when things fall apart.  I am my own scapegoat and that’s really not much fun!

Today was a tough day, it was one of those days where you are pretty sure that you have angered the gods and are facing their retribution.  At one point during black Monday, I actually got salad dressing in my eye (don’t ask – I couldn’t recreate it again if I tried for the rest of my life and it just got worse from there).  I got overwhelmed and overreacted and as soon as I was able to calm down and step back I was also able to see a solution and within two hours we went from ‘I’m done’ to problem solved.  Lesson learned – one thing at a time.  The big picture is good to see once in a while, but it is overwhelming on a daily basis.  It is so much better to take one problem at a time and it doesn’t make me feel like throwing in the towel quite as often!

BUUUT, whilst (I just like to use that word) on vacation the past week recycling wasn’t an option and since I was flying there was no way to take the recycling home with me.  What to do when you just don’t have the option to recycle?  Would love to get your comments and input!

We are so excited to be included in the A Star Is Born Baby Shower Event this weekend at The Collective.  Our demo specialist Katie will be sampling Jack’s Harvest – Here’s the 411:

Saturday, June 5 – 1:00 – 4:00pm

Looking for the perfect gift to help welcome a special little one to this world? At The Collective invites you to experience one-of-a-kind gifts for baby (and mom!) at their exclusive baby shower shopping event. Shower the new bundle of joy with handmade knits, organic baby clothes, accessories and more from local Atlanta artists and vendors!

Plus, meet Jack’s Harvest! They’ll be sampling their organic baby food and sharing the benefits of an organic diet for you and baby!

Featuring: An American in Paris, Colorful Crowns, EcoEMPORIUM, Jack’s Harvest, 5 di Couri

While you’re sampling your Jack’s Harvest make sure to say “hi” and try some of Sally B’s Sugar Scrub and her other Skin Yummies and also visit EcoEmporium for the finest in Green Luxury!  Here is a full list of all the different vendors who are a part of The Collective – this is an amazing place!  

3 Piece Soy Candles - www.3pieceonline.com
4M Leather Access
5 di cuori - www.5dicuori.com
a.fineline – www.afinemarket.blogspot.com
An American in Paris - www.aaip.biz
Angie’s Folk Hearts - www.angiesfolkhearts.com
Ann Finley Jewelry – www.annfinley.com
Ann Scarves & Belts
Beaded J.E.M.S. Jewelry – www.beadedjems.com
Bhutan Baskets - www.bhutan-atlanta.blogspot.com
Blow Fish Glass Studios – www.BlowFishGlassStudios.com
Cathy Ard – Tarot Card Readings and Antiques
Claire Was Here – www.ClaireWasHere.com
Color Island - www.colorisland.com
Cottage Works
Designs by Hand – www.atlantasilverco.com
Drea James Designs – www.dreajames.com
Forrester’s Greenhouse -  www.­forrestersgreenh­ouse.­com
Forties Forward – www.40sforward.com
Full Circle Trade – www.fullcircletrade.com
Gardener’s Table
Genevieve Knits - www.gingertheknitter.com

 Gifts on a Mission – www.giftsonamission.com   
Greenplate, Inc. - www.greenplate.org
Greg Ansley, Artist – Those Barrett Twins
 Guy Ferre, Artist
Hirsch Glass – www.hirschglass.com
Holywoof Styles – www.hollywoofstyles.com
Ideas Are Us – www.ideas-are-us.com
Isea Designs – www.iseadesigns.etsy.com
IslaPak – www.islakinc.com
J. William Hill, Artist – www.jwilliamhill.com
Jeffry Wilcox Paclipan, Artist – www.jwpaclipan.artspan.com 
Julie Ross, Artist – www.artpeas.com
Kelly Morgenstern
Knappart, Inc
Lancaster West - www.lancasterwest.com
LeAnn Christian, Glass Artist – www.leannchristian.com

Loco Gifts – www.etsy.com/shop/locogifts
Maryelin Zapata, Artist - Leather jewelry & Accessories
Mitzi Rothman Pet Portraits – www.mitzirothman.co

Nastro Bello Jewelry – www.nastrobello.com 
N.J. Edge, Artist – Revitalize
Nourish.Create.Bloom – www.NourishCreateBloom.com
Patty Elder, Artist
Peas For Prosperity – www.peasforprosperity.com
ProPueblo – www.propueblo.org
Ruby Regis - http://www.rubyregis.com
 Sally B’s Skin Yummies – www.sallybskinyummies.com

Scarves and Belts by Ann Shoenburg
Sencha Teahouse – www.sencha-teahouse.com 
 Silk Sorbet - www.silksorbet.com 
Stay Low Run Fast – www.staylowrunfast.com

Sujo Pottery – www.sujopottery.com
Traci Browning Photography - www.tracibrowning.com
Ward Marsh Limited –  www.wardmarshlimited.com

Winsome Expressions – www.winsomecards.com
Wieda Duncan, Fiber Artist

We are so excited to be featured in New York Family Magazine as one of their buzz worthy products.  Here is a link to the article. 

http://npaper-wehaa.com/nyf/2010/06/#?article=892855

Also, our friend Jeanne will be promoting her book in to which we loaned our Unarguable Twelve manifesto for picky eaters.  If you are in the White Plains area come and see her and try this chicken – it is YUMMMMMM!

Dinner Mom Jeanne Muchnick is dishing up samples of her Mustard Chicken and Chicken Panini. You’re invited to be her guest.

What you can expect:

• Samples of Jeanne’s recipes
• Strategy Tips
• Jeanne demonstrating Cuisinart’s “Griddler”
• Book signing
• “Private sale” of 15% off culinary purchases from Bloomingdale’s
• $25 gift card from Bloomingdale’s for every $100 purchase

http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=7c63d70feb&id=b1e4c2650b&e=76d21ee653