Pillsbury's Crescent Roll Taco Bake Recipe

I saw this recipe (on the Incredible Recipes FB page) and thought it looked like a fun, easy recipe for both au pairs and host families to try out.  It's fun for the kids, too!

 ☆.•♥•Pillsbury's Crescent Roll Taco Bake Recipe!.•♥•☆

2 crescent roll tubes
1 LB ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce
1 or 2 diced tomatoes depending on size
1/2 small can sliced olives if desired
Sour cream optional
sliced avacado optional

Lay out the two tubes of crescent pastry, thick sides in. Use some of the left over crescent rolls to to make the center a bit thicker.
Brown beef and add taco seasoning.
Lay beef in a circle inside of the laid out crescent rolls
Add cheese to the top
Pull over crescent rolls and tuck in under meat and cheese.
Add cheese, lettuce, tomato, black olives, sour cream or whatever you desire for your tacos, in the middle.

Follow cook time on the pack of crescent rolls, and once it's done, you're good to go!

Happy Women's Day!

Although it is spoken here in the US, Women's Day just doesn't seem to have the same significance as it does internationally.  I remember when I went to live in Italy.  I had been there only a day or two when I discovered how big Women's Day really is in other countries.  There were street vendors selling flowers, chocolates, balloons, etc all over the place.  It was like Valentines day all over again!   I have to admit I had no idea what they were celebrating.  I had to ask.  People couldn't believe I didn't know.

So, a suggestion to host families and Local Area Representatives: take a moment to recognize your au pair and do something special for her (a flower, a box of chocolates, a phone call or email, etc)--it will mean so much to her!

Featured Country for March is Mexico!

For the month of March families who match with a Mexican au pair will receive $100 off of their program fees.  Au Pairs from Mexico are a great option if you are looking for someone bi-lingual in Spanish/English.  Also, most au pairs from Mexico have experience cooking for children, enjoy music and dancing, and have hundreds of hours of childcare experience with infants.

Embassy wait times are very quick in Mexico--usually about 1 day.  So, if you need an au pair right away, I recommend you take a look at the Mexican candidates to see if one would fit your families needs.

Au Pair and Host Family Taxes

With the tax season here, whether you are a host family or an au pair you may have questions about paying taxes.  The following URL will direct you to the IRS website that outlines the au pair program tax requirements:  http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96420,00.html.

Go Au Pair is not licensed to give tax advice, so you should consult with a tax professional, however some helpful information can be found on Go Au Pair's website.

Your Placement Coordinator can also provide you with a letter from Go Au Pair that highlights some of the frequently asked questions--and gives the answers given directly from the IRS website given above.

Cabin Fever

I often wonder how children are able to spend every day stuck inside of a daycare center or in home daycare--where the caretakers are unable to take them out--without getting a bad case of cabin fever! 

I had a friend who cared for children at home and she complained to me that because she had various children from different parents who had different requirements and needs for their children, she was unable to go anywhere during the day.  She even had some parents who requested she not take her children anywhere--not even the park!  So, that left every other child she cared for stuck in the house with no outdoor time and no opportunity to explore and learn.

Then, you look at daycare centers.  They are unable to take the children on daily trips to the library, museums, malls, parks, etc.  It's just not feasable with the number of children they have and the different times they are coming and going, etc. 

So, here again, I go back to boasting about what a great childcare option having an au pair can be.  You don't have to worry about what other parents want, the au pair is there for YOUR FAMILY and only your family.  You don't have to worry about the few times a daycare center does take your kids out and have to wonder if there are sufficient adults to manage all the children--and if your child will stay with the group or get lost.  The au pair would responsible for YOUR CHILD(REN), and only YOUR CHILD(REN). 

I just read an article on babycenter.com about how important fresh air is for children and the importance of everyday outdoor time that will help build their sensory stimulation (the birds, the sun, the dirt) that can't be replicated indoors.  When you have an au pair, you run the show.  If you want your children to have outdoor time, museum time, library time, etc.  You tell her!  She'll make sure it's done.  I love that!  What a unique opportunity for your children to learn and to grow. 

Congratulations to the 2013 Au Pair in Excellence Winner!

Each year Go Au Pair invites families to nominate their au pair for theAu Pair in Excellence Award.  Host Families write nomination letters telling Go Au Pair why their au pair deserves to be recognized.  This year the winner is Phila Sozomblile.  You can read the families' letter here. Congratulations, Phila!!

Karla Lacomba was the runner up.  You can read Karla and the other nominees lettters on Go Au Pair's website:  http://www.goaupair.com/Host-Families/Choose-Go-Au-Pair/Award-Winning-Au-Pairs/2013-Au-Pair-in-Excellence. 

It's so fun to read the experiences families are having as well as see that each family has a unique situation that makes having an au pair such a great childcare option.  The quality of au pairs coming to care for children is apparent in the words of love an appreciation that each host family expressed in their letters.  It makes it such an honor to work with these wonderful young adults.

South African Au Pairs--February Feature!

Now is a great time to look at the au pair program if you are interested in a Native English speaking au pair.  Ilona (pictured above) is one of the South African au pairs who are currently available.

For the month of February, if you match with an au pair from South Africa you get a $100 off our program fees.

Check out the South African Au Pairs page at http://www.goaupair.com/Host-Families/Available-Au-Pairs/Featured-Country to see bios of our available South African au pairs.