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Food Glorious Food

This week, Role Mommy got the chance to meet Tim Gannon, chef extraordinaire and co-founder of Outback Steakhouse. Sitting with some of my favorite bloggers, like Kim at Mom in the City, Issa at Single NYC Mama and Aly Walansky at She Knows, we took our seats, and before we knew it, we were ready to start tasting steaks.

But not so fast...before we had our first bite, we were given the story behind the famous Outback Bloomin' Onion and even got to see first hand how they are able to turn those 16 ounce onions into works of art with a machine that can transform an onion into what looks like a Japanese flower in less than a second. Hmmm...I wonder if they sell that contraption at Williams Sonoma.

Tim then went on to tell us about all the affordable and delicious options on the menu and we proceeded to taste sirloins, prime rib, tenderloin, steak teriyaki, lobster tails, garlic potatoes with butter cream, flavorful veggies, and a mouthwatering chocolate brownie for dessert. After I couldn't take another bite, I started to feel like that girl in Willy Wonka who eats the everlasting gobberstopper and turns into a blueberry blimp.

While I was coming out of my food coma, Tim shared how Outback has changed their menu to reflect the latest dining trends. That means, rather than serve patrons a 24 ounce steak, they're offering healthier options with entrees that include smaller beef portions, shellfish and vegetables. And, while the economy has taken a hit, Outback is actually making it more affordable to eat out. Outback now offers 15 menu options under $15 - like lobster and steak! Or a teriyaki steak dinner that's only $9.95. And for weight watchers like myself - they even offer steak entrees that are under 500 calories. Plus, there's even a gluten free menu for customers with food allergies. Oh, and did I mention the kids meals offer everything from mini steak, to mac and cheese, burgers and much more - all for $6 and under! They've obviously thought of everything...and judging from our tasting...they have not only covered all the bases - they've hit it out of the park.

It was also re-assuring to learn that Outback monitors the quality of its food through the use of bio-thermometers in the kitchen - they're able to tell exactly what temperature the food is so that they don't undercook it. And they prepare everything from scratch and train their staff so that chefs worldwide can perfect their mouthwatering recipes right on the premises.

As we head into July 4th weekend where many of us will be grilling up steaks and burgers, why not give your barbecue a break and head to Outback where you can feed your entire family at a fraction of the price? Or, you could always order takeout and serve it up right at home. Hmmm....looks like this year's barbecue is going to feature a Bloomin Onion! Mmmm, mmmm, good.

Posted in: Events, Role Mommy Recommends on 07/01/2009

On the Road with Role Mommy

Take a tour of Manhattan with Role Mommy behind the wheel of the 2009 Nissan Murano. In this three part video we share all the cool things we discovered during our test drive, plus our favorite landmarks along the West Side Highway, a trip down memory lane, road trip essentials and much more. Plus, if you're in the market for a car, we tell you everything there is to know about the brand spankin' new Nissan Murano.

As my Grandma Dora used to say, "What's not to love?" (shrug shoulders while uttering this phrase).

The Role Mommy Test Drive Part I

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Road Trip Essentials & Why the West Side Highway Rocks

Posted in: Blog, Role Mommy Recommends, TV on 06/30/2009

Test Drive Anyone?

One of the perks of being a blogger and knowing my good friend Kim at TravelingMom.com is that I get to have some really cool experiences. Like the one that pulled up in front of my house today. For the next two weeks, I'm going to be able to test drive the 2009 Nissan Murano SUV and so far, the car looks great, handles the road really well, and it has already met my daughter's approval since the second row has heated seats.

Check out our blog post on Traveling Mom for the latest on our Nissan Murano test drive. And take a look at the car...pretty cool.

Posted in: Role Mommy Confessions, Role Mommy Recommends, TV on 06/28/2009

Welcome to Pet Central

Here at Role Mommy, we're becoming quite the zoo - welcoming into our home a brand new kitten named Hazel (we fondly refer to her as "Weasel"), two new hermit crabs, and a lizard who sadly, croaked after succumbing to one too many crickets that had been deposited into its expensive tank for feeding (for anyone planning to purchase a lizard, here's a quick tip: you're supposed to give a lizard 5 crickets, not 15 at one feeding).

Thankfully, there haven't been any more casualties in our home due to excessive feeding. And while I normally do reviews of products and services for kids and families, imagine my surprise when the PR team for K9 Cuisine, a line of pet food and treats for dogs and cats (but not lizards) reached out to me to see if we were interested in sampling their healthy and playful fare. After a quick consult with Rudy and Hazel, they were totally down with it.

And so, a few weeks ago, a big box of goodies arrived for the finicky duo. They were ecstatic since normally when boxes arrive, it's usually groceries from Fresh Direct, camp clothes for my daughter or a DVD from Netflix. The cats and I tore through the box and uncovered a treasure trove of goodies - from wet food, to catnip toys, to healthy dry food, pet supplements, you name it, it was in there.

Over the last month, I've discovered that the cats particularly love the dry food. In fact, if I leave the pantry door open for too long, they'll climb inside and paw at the bag until it tumbles off the shelf and deposits a few morsels of food on my wood floor. I have no idea why it's so tasty, nor will I be sampling it anytime soon, but Rudy and Hazel are big fans of Core dry food. Plus, Rudy is also quite fond of the catnip toy and luckily, Hazel hasn't discovered what it is exactly or else our psychotic kitten will be bouncing off the walls.

If you'd like to find out more about the pet food products offered at K9 Cuisine, then visit their website. The cool thing is, you can buy them in stores or order online if you run out of your pet's favorite dish. Time to bolt...have to feed the hermit crabs!

Posted in: Blog, Role Mommy Recommends on 06/27/2009

The Find's Fave of the Week

Too Cute Bento Lunch Boxes

This fall my daughter begins preschool and I'm in search of a bento box for her lunches. I'm half Japanese and I've grown up with bento boxes my entire life. I'm looking forward to preparing meals that will make her smile and hopefully consume. Luckily it will only be twice a week! There are a plethora of bento blogs devoted to bento box preparation and many options to buy bento lunch boxes online. I'm looking for a bento that is colorful, cute and can be easily opened with a toddler's small hands. The larger orange and pink Vivo is adorable, but with the metal handle is better suited towards older kids.

In addition to the actual bento lunch boxes there are recipe books and a dizzying array of accessories for the preparation of bento. I've been already using some of them to make mealtimes more fun for my finicky eater. Luckily she loves rice, organic nori and edamame which I'll be adding to the bento and are quick and easy to prepare.

Bento products featured above:

Vivo Kids Bento Box, Orange and Pink, $22 at Amazon.com
Yokom Kids Bear Bento Box, $17.99 at Sugarcharms.com
Hawaii's Bento Box Cookbook: Fun Lunches for Kids, $14.95 at nativebookshawaii.com
Niko Niko Punch 3 - Face Bento Decoration, $19.50 at jbox.com

Posted in: Role Mommy Recommends, The Find's Fave of the Week on 06/26/2009

Look at Me, I'm a Cartoon Character!

I've officially decided. I really like myself better these days as a cartoon character than as myself. With the current rainy weather and humidity, I look like I've stuck my finger in a light socket every day of the week so imagine my surprise when my friends at Frito Lay and their web series A Woman's World surprised me and 14 other amazing bloggers who are part of the their Fab 15 with a badge featuring me in a cute dress and adorable hairdo.

Funny, I'm actually going to be getting my haircut this weekend and I think I'll bring this cartoon lady with me. If you'd like to see some of my Fab 15 friends, then check out the shots below...
This is Classy Mommy. She's a former marketing executive for Ford who turned her passion for product reviews and giveaways into one of the most popular parenting review sites in the blogosphere!

Next up, my good friend Audrey, who is a former fashionista (she worked for Donna Karan) turned mom-inista. Audrey vlogs with her mom and sister at Mom Generations and offers amazing tips on how to look great for less.

Meet Katja Presnal. Katja is a social media dynamo and is the founder of Skimbaco Lifestyle, which offers product reviews, interviews tips on social networking and much more! Katja is also what I'd like to call the Twitter whisperer with over 10,000 followers and counting.

Meet Christine. She's the woman behind From Dates to Diapers which offers great giveaways and reviews for new moms plus laugh out loud posts about her hectic life as a busy mom of six children all under eight years old!

We'll be adding more of the Fab 15 over the coming days, and if you'd like to make your own cartoon version of yourself, you can do it too! Just visit A Woman's World and start imagining yourself with a perfect hairstyle and really cute outfit.

Posted in: Blog, Role Mommy Recommends on 06/25/2009

Rude Restaurant Kids

Received this video yesterday and the moment I watched it, I cracked up. The reason - my kids are total restaurant kids and while we've had a few frustrating moments with them, for the most part, they're pretty good when we go out. I can't say the same for the parents who bring screaming toddlers into places like King Yum and go about their meal without taking them out of the place to calm them down.

Do you know parents with rude restaurant kids? If so, send them this video. Maybe they'll get the hint!

Posted in: Daily Shout Out, Role Mommy Recommends on 06/23/2009

Road Trip Essentials for Families

Role Mommy recently appeared on Better TV with our favorite bloggers, Melissa Chapman - whose work can be found in everything from Time Out New York Kids, to iVillage, to She Knows to NYC Moms blog and Kim Orlando, founder of Traveling Mom. Together we were featured in a segment about the must-have items for road trips. If you click on Better TV and then visit the Survive Road Trip 1 segment you can check out the segment featuring myself and Melissa. Kim's picks for places to go is on the way!

Posted in: Blog, Role Mommy Recommends on 06/11/2009

Role Mommy Kicks Off Suki Mama Mania!

Role Mommy is proud to announce that we've partnered with WPIX to help their morning anchor Sukanya Krishnan usher in motherhood in style. Sukanya has only 11 weeks left to her big day and we figured we'd give her the keys to the mommy kingdom and share the inside track on all the items she'll need to make life as a new mom a piece of cake. Plus, we'll be getting some great giveaways compliments of Babies R Us and Diapers.com so if you live in the tri-state area, tune in this Friday at 8:15 am for your chance to win!

The first order of business - Diaper Bags! We'll be unveiling some stylish bags for moms and dads compliments of Babies R Us and then, we'll share all the essentials a new mom needs when she's on the run with an infant. So without further ado, here are some of our tips:

1. Feeding Time - If you're using formula, keep a few bottles of sterilized water ready to mix with formula. You can buy pre-packaged dry formula, or measure it out and keep in a formula dispenser. If you're breastfeeding, get an insulated bottle carrier to keep it refrigerated as long as possible.  Our favorite bottles hands down are playtex nursers with drop-ins since there's no bottle washing involved when you're on the go. And you'll also need a burp cloth for spit up - keep at least 2 in your diaper bag at all times.

2. Diaper Duty - you'll need at least five diapers, scent free or hypoallergenic wipes, diaper rash cream (Butt Paste is all the rage these days), vaseline (for infants), Babyganics anti-bacterial foam cleanser and diaper disposal bags.

3. Clothing - Make sure you always have an extra outfit and onesie on hand in case your baby soils their clothes - and trust us - it will happen from both ends. And always have a hat and a pair of booties or socks in your diaper bag.

4. Soothing items - Pacifier, blanket, small plush toy - If you're out and about and your baby is getting fussy, then a pacifier will become your next best friend. Make sure you buy a "pacifier keeper" so that you can snap it on their clothes and you don't lose it! Keep extra pacifiers in a ziploc bag. And never leave home without a blanket - especially if you're going in and out of air conditioned places. Also keep a small plush toy like MiYim's new organic petite line of animals for babies or wrist rattles to keep them entertained.

5. Mom Space - Don't forget yourself. Make sure to include a separate smaller bag for your wallet, keys, tissues, lipstick, breast pads (if you're breastfeeding), a Tide pen (to erase the spit up stains) and sunglasses (you will be sleep deprived - no need for everyone to see the noticeable bags under your eyes).

Posted in: Blog, News, Role Mommy Recommends on 06/11/2009

The Find's Pick of the Week

Serena and Lily Market Sling

Serena and Lily is based in California's Marin County. Marin is known for it's lush hillsides, organic produce and laid back bohemian vibe all set to the tune of luxurious living and a European car in every garage. To be true to their luxe California upbringing, Marin mompreneurs, Serena and Lily have launched a line of successful children's bedding, furniture, and accessories. Our favorite item from the collection is the Market sling. This sling takes the most commonly drab or hideously bright baby sling and takes it to another level. The charming styles are hand-embroidered or screen printed with a modern pretty block print designed by Serena on 100% organic cotton and have a cuddly soft interior. The sling's design is one seamless piece of fabric without buckles, belts or straps, fits snugly and is easy to wear. The market sling comes in three styles, the Catalina, the peacock and the Prague.

The Shoe Shopping Experiment

Can you find your latest shoe obsession faster with images than with words? TheFind.com is testing out a new visual search site and wants your feedback! As a thank you for completing the survey, you will be treated to some fab coupons from Bluefly, Shoebuy, and Naturals of Ashland. Here's how it works:

1. Go go visual.thefind.com

2. Type in a shoe search (eg. gladiator sandals) or click on a "Top Shoe Searches" link

3. Some products will show buttons for "find similar" and "compare" upon mouseover. Click on one of these buttons

4. You should see products similar in shape and color

5. When you're done, click the "take our survey" link at the top of the results

6. Tell us what you think!

7. Collect your coupon codes at the end of the survey.

Posted in: Blog, Role Mommy Recommends on 06/04/2009

Older Entries

05/31/2009: Popcorn Picks

05/31/2009: The Find's Pick of the Week

05/13/2009: Family Fun for Father's Day

05/13/2009: The Find's Fave of the Day

05/09/2009: Role Mommy Has Landed!

05/07/2009: The Find's Top 10 Gifts for Mothers Day

04/28/2009: A Woman's World - Episode 6

04/27/2009: Who's Your Role Mommy?

04/24/2009: The Friday Fave Five

04/19/2009: I Wish I Were 17 Again!

04/19/2009: The Earth Day Fave Five

04/18/2009: Mother's Day Book Pick Alert!

04/16/2009: The Bouquet that Got Away

04/10/2009: The Friday Fave Five

04/10/2009:

04/08/2009: Passover Recipes that Aim to Please

04/08/2009: The Passover Fave Five

04/06/2009: The "This Economy Blows" Fave Five

04/02/2009: The Friday Fave Fives

03/26/2009: The Friday Fave Fives

03/22/2009: A Sneak Peak at My Next Book

03/21/2009: Role Mommy Meets Chandra Wilson!

03/19/2009: The Friday Fave Fives

03/18/2009: Thursday Fave Fives

03/17/2009: The Wednesday Fave Five

03/16/2009: The Tuesday Fave Five

03/14/2009: The Monday Fave Five

03/14/2009: Food Network Host Robin Miller Chats with Role Mommy

03/12/2009: The Role Mommy Fave Five

03/05/2009: The Role Mommy Top Five

02/22/2009: The 411 on Verizon Fios for Families

02/22/2009: The Role Mommy 411 on Disney

02/13/2009: Disney's American Idol Experience

02/10/2009: Turner Classic Movies Hosts 31 Days of Oscar

02/05/2009: Tivo Alert...Gifted Hands on TNT!

01/13/2009: Giveaway Central - Free Magazine Subscription!

01/06/2009: 13 Ways to Transform Your Life

01/05/2009: Shedding LBS. With My Weight Loss Coach

01/02/2009: Selena Gomez...Tween Role Model

12/30/2008: Role Mommy Fave Five Sites for Single Moms

12/28/2008: The Role Mommy Fave Five

12/21/2008: Classic Disney Movies this December!

12/21/2008: Rolemommy Movies of 2008

12/19/2008: Rolemommy Product Shout Out of the Day

12/15/2008: Ties for Tots

12/12/2008: Katie Lee Joel Whips Up Holiday Treats

12/10/2008: Adorable Video Alert!

12/10/2008: Kristin Recommends

12/08/2008: I Don't Do Cupcakes...but I Do Make Swordfish

12/05/2008: Giveaway Central - Children's Place Gift Card!

12/04/2008: Kristin Recommends...My Meebas

12/03/2008: The Role Mommy Gift Shop

12/03/2008: Giveaway Central - TNT Movie Goodies

12/01/2008: Giveaway Central

11/27/2008: The Role Mommy Cooking Show - Part Deux

11/26/2008: Role Mommy on the Run...The Thanksgiving Show

11/25/2008: Another Harry Potter Giveaway!

11/21/2008: Let the Holiday Giveaways Begin!

11/19/2008: Turkey, Sweet Potatoes and Pie Recipes Anyone?

11/16/2008: The Jonas Brothers Playing Live

11/13/2008: So Cute...Live Puppy Cam!

11/09/2008: We've Been Nominated!

11/08/2008: The Ultimate Holiday Mom Blogger Gift Guide

11/07/2008: My Next Car

11/02/2008: Angelie Jolie Deserves an Oscar

11/01/2008: I'm Allergic to My House

10/21/2008: Tried & True Tips from a Nanny to the Stars

10/19/2008: Halloween with Hasbro

10/18/2008: Role Mommy Recommends

10/12/2008: Good to Go with Gogo

10/03/2008: Last Night's Debate

09/30/2008: More Magazine Reinvention Convention Discount!

09/24/2008: Check Out the Latest Games from Nintendo!

09/23/2008: Fresh Direct - Enter to Win a $50 Gift Certificate!

09/21/2008: The Zwinky Cuties NYC Launch Party

09/20/2008: Weekend Link Love

09/11/2008: Harry Potter Giveaway!

09/09/2008: Andrea Recommends...

09/05/2008: Weight Watchers...We Have a Winner!

09/01/2008: Andrea Recommends...Call All Yu-Gi-Ho! Fans to Rock the Vote!

08/31/2008: We Recommend...Eat This, Not That, For Kids!

08/29/2008: Rebecca Recommends...Mamma Mia - The Sing A Long Edition

08/24/2008: Andrea Recommends...The New Sesame Street!

08/19/2008: Andrea Recommends...Buddhi Wear

08/17/2008: I Love My Cool Pix!

08/16/2008: We Got A Shout out On Yahoo Shine!

08/10/2008: Andrea Recommends...Pak Naks

08/07/2008: Cool Animation Site for Parents & Kids!

08/06/2008: Link Love

08/05/2008: Forget the Staycation...Take A Roadtrip to Club Getaway

08/02/2008: New Techno Toys for Kids

07/22/2008: Great Giveaways with SoapNet.com

07/16/2008: Check Out the Jawbone!!!

07/15/2008: The Viddler in the Sunroom

07/14/2008: A Chocolate Fountain, The Closer & Kyra Sedgwick

07/14/2008: The Closer Starts Tonight on TNT!

07/12/2008: Win Your Own Career OnRamp Workshop

07/07/2008: Role Mommy's favorite summer vacation spots

07/06/2008: The SVMoms Blog Summer Essentials List

07/06/2008: And the Winner is...

06/24/2008: Role Mommy Recommends

06/10/2008: A Method Cocktail Party

06/06/2008: TBS Comedy Stars Brunch with Bloggers

06/01/2008: Win $$$ With Your Best Confession!

05/31/2008: Win a Year Supply of Polly Pocket Toys!

05/31/2008: Win a Trip to Disney with Hanes!

05/27/2008: The Perfect Key Lime Pie That's Only 3 Points!!!

05/25/2008: Baby Mama and Narnia Movie Reviews

05/23/2008: Sex & The City Giveaway...Winners Selected

05/23/2008: Why I Love Dr. Bailey More than Meredith Grey

05/15/2008: Check Out Hilarious New Weight Loss Book

05/13/2008: Good News for Julia Louis Dreyfus

05/05/2008: Weight Watchers for Life!

05/05/2008: Three Lovelies Recommends...

05/03/2008: Role Mommy Interviews Jason Priestley!

04/30/2008: I'm a Mom Who's A Little Bit Country!

04/26/2008: Things you Can Put On Matzoh

04/22/2008: Sane Fitness: Preggers

04/19/2008: Grandma Dora's Passover Recipes

04/19/2008: Things to do on Spring Break in NYC!

04/19/2008: Exclusive Opportunity to see Secrets of a Soccer Mom!

04/11/2008: Donny and Marie Named Hosts of NBC Special America's Favorite Mom

04/06/2008: Love Our Children USA

03/29/2008: Check Out Letter Ice!

03/15/2008: In the Heights - Amazing New Musical!

03/14/2008: Date Night or Moms Night Out at Simply Italy!

03/13/2008: Win Duracell Rechargeable Batteries!!!

03/09/2008: College Roadtrip

03/01/2008: Dapper Tags

02/28/2008: Role Mommy Giveaway Central

02/17/2008:

02/09/2008: Award-winning Storyteller Launches New Website

02/05/2008: Sign Up for New Contest to Nominate America's Favorite Mom!

01/24/2008: Three Lovelies Recommends...Great Fashion Discounts

12/31/2007: Matched in Manhattan - Brand New Lifetime TV Show That'll Have You Hooked!

12/21/2007: Check This Out!!! Amazing New Site to Create Your Own Radio Station!

12/21/2007: Moving to a New Neighborhood? Check out Street Advisor.com!

12/17/2007: THE ICE PICKER

12/17/2007: The Flip Video Camera & One True Media

12/16/2007: The Easiest Muffins Under the Sun

12/07/2007: Visit a Brand New Site for New & Expectant Parents...The Cradle!

12/05/2007: Nintendo Gives Their Best Picks of the Holiday Season

12/02/2007: Shout out to my new favorite TV Show...Brothers & Sisters

12/02/2007: Young Collector's Art

12/02/2007: Custom Made For Kids

11/29/2007: NEW ROLE MOMMY RECOMMENDS CONTRIBUTOR...THREE LOVELIES!

11/25/2007: The Mac Book Pro

10/28/2007: DATE NIGHT...AN AMAZING NEW SINGER

10/24/2007: Find Out the Calories in Your Kids' Fast Food Meals with Calorie King

09/27/2007: The Gal to Gal Virtual Walk For Stage for Breast Cancer Patients & Families

09/22/2007: Little Miss Tuffett

09/18/2007: Mmmmmm Yummy - Whoopie Pie Recipe from Everyday with Rachel Ray!

09/15/2007: IT'S A JOLLY HOLIDAY WITH MARY!

08/12/2007: Kindergarten Countdown & The Tessy & Tab Reading Series

07/28/2007: Great Interactive Site for Girls - Bella Sera

07/28/2007: Two Blue Peas

07/04/2007: A REVOLUTIONARY WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT! DIET TELEVISION

06/15/2007: Role Mommy Hits Sweden! We've Made the Brio Website!

06/03/2007: THE ART OF KNITTING 4 KIDS

05/23/2007: Great Site that Tracks Where Your Internet Buddies Are

05/12/2007: Workit Mom

04/30/2007: Organize Your Life with the MomAgenda!

04/22/2007: Fairy Princess Designs

03/21/2007: Hilarious Snapsuits, Kids Clothes & Accessories at Wry Baby

03/16/2007: Sue Fabisch is Walmart Woman!

03/14/2007: Visit Baby Dagny For the Inside Track on Great Items for Little Ones!

03/09/2007: Dragonflies & Ladybugs

03/07/2007: Greeting Flix

02/16/2007: NEW DVD SERIES CAN TEACH YOUR BABY TO READ!

02/16/2007: Must Have Item For Moms & Babies...The Bottle Tamer

02/11/2007: Great Writing Opportunity for Single Moms!

01/31/2007: Congratulations Jen...Winner of The Pepper Kids Giveaway!

01/29/2007: The Pepper Kids...Great Online Shopping Site for Friends & Family!

12/15/2006: Office Depot Gift-Giving Expert Hillary Mendelsohn Gives Great Shopping Tips for the Holidays

12/10/2006: Kim's Picks...Tiny Prints

12/09/2006: Thermal Tees for the Holidays!

12/04/2006: Mommy Track'd

11/17/2006: SWIFFER HOME MAKEOVER SWEEPSTAKES!

10/25/2006: SNACKING ON THE RUN...WITH NUTRITIONIST KERI GLASSMAN

09/26/2006: Great Skin Care Line for Moms & Children!

07/24/2006: Great Tees for Kids