Mom Life in the PNW

Make Your Own Soda With SodaStream Source

Make Your Own Soda With SodaStream Source

One of the things I can’t live without is flavored drinks and that includes soda pop. I love the crisp, refreshing taste that plain  ol’ water just can’t give me. With products like the SodaStream, they make it easy for you to make your own carbonated flavored drinks in the comfort of your home cheaply and with better ingredients than regular soda.

What is the SodaStream Source?

A beautiful design. Simplicity. Convenience. Every time you use it, you are making the planet a cleaner place to live. Powered by a reusable CO2 canister, the refined mechanics of the all-new SodaStream Source make the entire top surface responsive to touch to quickly transform water into soda. An LED display indicates three levels of fizziness for precise carbonation with every use, while a new snap-lock bottle mechanism makes the Source even easier to use.

sodastream source

My Review:

When the SodaStream arrived, I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to set up. No cords to mess with, just a carbonator to screw in the back, then you’re on your way to making your own refreshing, bubbly beverages!

Sodastream carbonator

 It requires cold water to achieve the best results possible. Then you insert the bottle and push it in to lock it in place.

sodastream sourcesodastream source

Once you’ve got it locked in place, you press the top down and do however many pumps given by directions on the flavored SodaStream mix bottles. Cola requires 6 pumps or until the top indicator drop icons are lit up.  This achieves the best results since Cola is one of those sodas that needs a lot of fizz in order to taste great. I’ve found any less than that and it tastes flat. Also, the flavored Cola provided by SodaStream doesn’t taste like Coca-Cola, but more like RC Cola which is a mix between Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

P1000706sodastream source light

Next, you fill up the cap with your flavored mix and SLOWLY pour it into the carbonated water bottle. I made the mistake of not following directions and ended up with an overflow of sticky soda on my counter. You may not have to do it with drinks that you don’t make as carbonated as Cola, but be careful on the Cola or your results will be this:

sodastream overflow

OOPS!

The thing I really like about the SodaStream is that I am prepared for a party or whenever someone randomly stops by. That means I don’t have to go run to the store to get some soda or juice, I can just fill the 1 liter bottle up and let them decide on what flavoring they want. I also love that SodaStream has options for adult beverages. I tried the cosmopolitan and it was pretty good carbonated. Maybe a little too sweet, but I’ll try adding some lemon-lime to it next time to give it a little tartness. And who doesn’t love the fact that it is economically cheaper to purchase these SodaStream mixes and make your own pop/soda at home? Per liter, you’re spending an average of $.35, where as if you purchase 2 liter of soda, you’re spending over a $1.00 in most stores. It’s also healthier for you too, in moderation that is, since it contains no high fructose corn syrup which is found in high amounts of regular soda.

I did find that if you don’t give it enough of a pump for maximum carbonation, the entire bottle you just made goes flat, and quite quickly. So push the button until you hear a loud buzz sound. If you don’t hear these, you’re probably going to have flat drinks and no one likes flat soda!

Overall, I love my new SodaStream Source and I see it coming in handy for years to come.

Disclosure: I received the SodaStream Source Kit to facilitate this review. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Seahawks Are Going to the Superbowl

seahawks superbowl

Since we went to the Seahawks first play off game, we tried to get tickets to the playoff championship game but didn’t take into account that it would double in price because IT WAS THE championships. Plus, there weren’t any seats available for 2, so we said screw it as we didn’t feel like paying about $500 to sit in the nosebleeds anyways. Under $200 was fine, but anymore than that and it’s pushing it. It would have been a great game to be at since the 49ers are our rivals, but we got to enjoy it in the comfort of our own home with a few friends.

Last weeks game was fun, but it was during a storm, so I was cold, wet and irritated by drunk, annoying fans. You never realize how annoying drunk people are until you’re the sober one having to deal with their attention whore antics. I don’t get why people want to get drunk at a game so they don’t know what’s going on anyways. It’s fine to have a few beers but don’t get so blitzed that you’re annoying everyone around you.

During halftime, I had to go pee with the masses. I was standing in line talking to my husband and then these 2 old drunk bitches shove me and cut in line. I glared and said “OOOKAAAYYYY”. Then they were being loud and annoying wondering why people were giving them dirty looks. Hmm, I wonder.

Then at one point I hear this yodeling in the stands and I look over to see who it is since they’re doing it nonstop and it’s the same annoying ass drunk lady. It was fine there, but she had already pissed me off in the bathroom so anything coming out of her mouth makes me want to gouge my ears out. One of them was even a school teacher. (she went off on this weird story that I didn’t care to listen to but nodded to anyways) Needless to say, it makes me want to home school.

But the point is not that some fans are douche nozzles in any teams fan base, but that the Seahawks are going to the Superbowl and will win against the Broncos since this will be the first time that they play against a team that has a real defense (according to my husband). Like I pay attention to any other games that doesn’t involve the Seahawks.

And it’s time to move off from the Sherman is so classless media hype. It’s like beating a dead horse. You sensitive folk can whine about his words all you want, I just can’t wait until his audio gets released since he was mic’d up for the game, then all of you thin-skinned ninny’s can eat it.

#GoHawks

Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder

Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder

Slow cooker New England clam chowder

This is probably one of the best Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowders I have tasted and that includes some restaurants. There’s nothing worse than having rotten tasting clams and reheated soup from days ago. This actually happened to my husband and I in Seaside, Oregon about 5 years ago. We couldn’t find any place open that wasn’t busy or was serving clam chowder, so we stumbled upon this empty cafe and asked for 2 bowls of soup, it literally tasted weeks old. We couldn’t even eat it after the first bite, but my husband didn’t want to complain so we left our soup and realized that an empty place is obviously empty for a reason. But now I can have the best clam chowder without having to sacrifice my taste buds and so can you!

Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder Recipe:

 

Ingredients:

4 (6 1/2 ounce) cans chopped clams (including juice)
2 small cans of cream of mushroom soup
3 medium or 6 small potatoes, peeled and diced
6 strips of bacon, cooked and diced
2 stalks of celery, diced
1/2 onion, diced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 cups half and half

Directions:

Open your cans of clams and pour into slow cooker.  Add the 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, bacon, potatoes, celery, garlic, onion, dried basil, dried thyme, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to slow cooker.  Mix until all combined and cover and cook on low for 6 hours.  After the 6 hours are up, add half and half and cook on low for an additional 30 minutes. Remember to remove bay leaf before serving.

I found that cooking on high is actually too high and causes it to stick and burn on the sides and the bottom. So a lower heat setting is essential in having a great tasting Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder.

Seahawks are Going to the Superbowl and Winning!

Seahawks are Going to the Superbowl and Winning!

Seahawks Superbowl XLVIII

Yesterday was a rough day to be watching the Seahawks. The immediate fumble at the beginning of the game by Russell Wilson that ended up being recovered by the 49ers left me cringing in my seat, but thankfully we held them to only a field goal. Pretty soon, the score read 10-0 49ers, which was then reduced to 10-3 by midpoint.  I didn’t lose my faith because I knew they’d come out playing better in the second half, and that they did!

Thank you to the entire team for working together and to Sherman’s tip in the end zone for intended receiver Crabtree, and Malcolm Smith for catching it making it the game winning interception! Final score 23-17! YEAHHHHH BUDDY, we’re going to the Superbowl!

We had a little party here because we knew it was going to be a good game, after all, the 49ers are our rivals and most Seahawks fans absolutely despise the 49ers coach Harbaugh because he’s a cry baby, fit throwing, jackass. Last weeks game when the 49ers played against the Panthers, he received an unsportsmanlike conduct flag for throwing a fit over an incompletion call. I couldn’t stop laughing…

But, people aren’t making a big fuss about the Seahawks winning the NFC championship game and going onward to the Superbowl. They’re more hyped on what Sherman said in his after game interview. He was rightfully calling Crabtree out. Some of you may think he’s a thug or a bully, but him and Crabtree have had their differences for a year when Crabtree tried to start a fight with Sherman at a charity event. Sherman went up to shake everyone’s hand including Crabtree and Crabtree hit his hand away and stood up like he wanted to fight. There’s a time and a place for everything and that was not one of those places.

Richard Sherman

 

Regardless of whether or not you think Sherman’s shit talking antics are classless or thuggish, we’re going to the Superbowl and that’s all that matters!

Now, I have a Superbowl party to plan which most likely consists of taking up a lot of my time until after it’s over.

Let’s #gohawks. It’s our year!

Target Clearance Schedule

Target Clearance Schedule

I absolutely love Target. It’s one of my favorite stores to use my coupons at since I can stack a Target coupon plus a manufacturer coupon on one item if the item listed on the coupon is for the exact same product. You can also score items even cheaper if you happen to find them on clearance and wait for the Target clearance schedule.

Target Clearance Schedule

 Target Clearance Schedule:

  1. Monday: Kids clothing, Stationary (office supplies, gift wrap) and Electronics.
  2. Tuesday:  Women’s Clothing and Domestics.
  3. Wednesday: Men’s clothing, Toys and Health & Beauty.
  4. Thursday: Lingerie, Shoes and Housewares.
  5. Friday: Cosmetics.

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