Harlem Globetrotters Summer Skills Clinics {$10 off Promo}

Looking for something fun for the kids to do this summer? I’ve seen lists of many different summer camps offered but if your child loves basketball this is definitely one you’re going to want to sign up for!

Now everything awesome - kids, basketball, teamwork, and having fun – comes together at destination awesome: Harlem Globetrotter Summer Skills Clinics, the ONLY clinics coached by stars of The Harlem Globetrotters!

Everyone loves The Globetrotters, the stars who always put smiles on kids’ faces. At Globetrotter Summer Skills Clinics, our stars coach kids in limited size groups and bring laughs, encouragement and high fives for everyone! Globetrotters direct, motivate, inspire AND entertain, keeping it inclusive and fun for ALL boys and girls, aged 6-12, of ALL skill and experience levels. Each session is $59 and includes a free ticket voucher to see the Globetrotters live in 2014!  But you can save $10 with promo code USFAMILY! Code is valid through 5/31.

 

Each child will receive:

• A free ticket voucher (valued up to $40) to see the Globetrotters during their 2014 World Tour
• Autographs and photos with the stars!
• Official Globetrotter certificate of completion with a personalized Globetrotter nickname

Clinic Locations: http://globi.es/GlobetrotterClinicsUSFAMILY (These are just the clinics - the games for your tickets are in 200 cities)

Save $10 on registration! Enter the Coupon Code USFAMILY on the cart page after completing your registration  http://globi.es/GlobetrotterClinicsUSFAMILY

 

Oreo Hot Fudge Cheesecake {Recipe}

One of my daughter’s always asks for Strawberry Cheesecake every year for her birthday. My favorite dessert is cheesecake so I definitely don’t mind making it for her, or most of the time buying it from Costco – they have really good Strawberry Cheesecake. This year however with all my time spent on Pinterest one day she over heard me oohing and ahhing over this Oreo Cheesecake I found. I’m pretty sure she takes after her mother’s taste buds because cheesecake + chocolate, well you just can’t get any better.

So for her 8th birthday today I made Oreo Hot Fudge Cheesecake. I changed the original recipe up a little bit and added the massive layer – an entire jar + a little bit more of another one of hot fudge sauce on top. I LOVE hot fudge sauce, which is why I went that direction rather than a chocolate glaze or chocolate syrup on top. It was super rich and so yummy!!

Oreo Hot Fudge Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. (350 g or 550 g if you want more) Oreo cookies, divided

• 1/3 cup butter, melted

• 3 pkgs. (8-oz. - 250 g) cream cheese, softened

• 3/4 cup sugar

• 4 eggs

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

• Extra Oreo cookies, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 F. Finely crush about 15-20 cookies and coarsely chop about 10 cookies; set aside. Mix finely crushed cookie crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Press on bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan; set aside.

In an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add eggs one at a time and beat only until just incorporated. Add sour cream and vanilla and fold in chopped cookies. Spread mixture onto prepared crust. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until set. If it's really wiggly, it's not ready; if it's only slightly wiggly, it's ready - it will set as it cools. Turn off heat and leave to cool completely in oven. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or preferably overnight before serving.

Run a hot knife around the side to remove from pan. Pour an entire jar or more of hot fudge sauce (heated up) on top to cover  completely.

Enjoy!

Make Meal Time Easier Than Ever! {eMeals}

Looking for a way to simplify meal time? As a family we make it a priority to eat dinner together every night of the week but if I have a busy day and don’t plan my meals out for the week or in the morning by the time dinner rolls around sometimes we all end up eating a hodge podge of items together at the table and generally they aren’t the healthiest of items.

eMeals.com, the leading online meal planner,  has launched a new slow cooker meal plan to make your life even easier when it comes to getting meals on the table! Each slow cooker plan will include 7 crockpot dinners, with some timesaving “cook once, eat twice” favorites. They have both a Slow Cooker Classic plan full of tasty comfort food as well a groundbreaking Slow Cooker Clean Eating Plan that serves up quick, simple, and healthy meals. Right now, you can use discount code LUNCHFREE for a free lunch meal plan with the purchase of a dinner plan.

It’s simple too, just pick your plan (eating style, family size and favorite grocery store), get great recipes in your inbox every week that also include side dishes to go with your entree, shop with the detailed grocery list that’s organized by section and coordinated with weekly sales at select stores, then relax! This service will take the headache out of meal time- my favorite part is cooking and eating the meal so this is a service I know I’ll love!

So check out eMeals today and take the work out of planning your meals. Think of all the great things you can do with that extra time, I’m thinking walks with the family, playing at the park or pool hmmm maybe even a nap .

Birthday Cake Pancakes

Today is my daughter’s 8th birthday! My kids are growing up way too fast. So in celebration I decided to do something fun and make her these Birthday Cake Pancakes that I’ve been eyeing for a while now. While they are fun for a birthday you definitely don’t need the excuse of a birthday to make these.

You can find the recipe for Birthday Cake Pancakes HERE.

I’m not typically a fan of icing and we just used powdered sugar and milk mixed together because we didn’t have any whipping cream like the recipe called for. All the icing of course just slipped off the warm pancakes but they were still yummy. And of course she went sprinkle crazy. Oh we also didn’t have a yellow cake mix- I know sometimes I take on these grand ideas without making sure we have everything first, heck what am I saying sometimes I do it most of the time but usually the crazy thing is that I do plan it and look at the ingredients and then I guess just kind of assume we have things, oh well it worked. So instead of making the homemade yellow cake mix we just used a rainbow chip cake mix we had – close enough and it added extra sprinkles to it.

Summer Vacation Sanity {Top 5 Tips for On the Go Moms}

 

 

Summer Vacation Sanity for On the Go Moms

If you’re like me, you pride yourself on planning the perfect summer vacation.  While perfection may be difficult to achieve, I find planning makes perfect.  The trick is to be as prepared as possible so that you can really enjoy that quality family time.  Planning is the key to successfully getting everyone packed and ready to go on the departure date.

1. Lists Are Your Friends

A good friend doesn’t let you down when the going gets tough, and that’s exactly how you should look at your vacation lists.  Start making your lists weeks before vacation.  Personally, I love making lists, so a vacation is just an excuse to indulge myself.  I’ll make lists about stopping the newspaper and mail and calling the dog sitter.  I’ll make lists about what to pack for every family member.  Don’t leave anything off, even obvious items like underwear.  In the last minute rush, it’s often the obvious things that get overlooked.

If you’re always on the go or someone who tends to misplace things, you may want to keep your list digital with an app like Packing Pro. This smart phone accessory not only keeps your list ordered and convenient but also suggests items you may have forgotten to add.

2. Dehydration Is a Real Mood Killer

Few things drive moms and kids crazy faster than being dehydrated.  In my experience, it’s the number one cause of whining and crying on vacation.  Keep water on you at all times.  A refillable water bottle is best.  Get the kids each a water bottle that’s sized appropriately for them and have them fill it at drinking fountains whenever possible. If you prefer disposable water bottles, I suggest the sport top bottles. These are slightly more expensive but are easier to close and therefore result in less of a mess when spilled.

3. Routines Keep Everyone on an Even Keel

Vacations take us out of our ruts, but kids don’t always deal well when routines are disrupted.  As much as possible, keep meal and nap times on a regular schedule.  I know during my vacations, my husband and I like to treat ourselves to some nicer options, which often come with a longer dining experience that may not be amenable to grumbly stomachs. Bring some extra snacks to appease the kids that won’t ruin their appetites. Kids are also likely to need even more sleep than usual thanks to all the vacation excitement.  Accordingly, make a point of keeping regular bedtimes for everyone.

4. Lock in Lodging Early

Much of your vacation will likely revolve around your accommodations, so this is not the area of your vacation to skimp on! Whether it be a resort that has it all or a little B&B for your weekend getaway, make sure you pick the lodging that best suits your family’s needs and budget. Using a reviews site or social media forum can really help you sort through the hundreds of options for your vacation destination. When my family was traveling to Hawaii, we were able to limit our search of Honolulu hotels to those closest to Diamond Head, a must see for my crew. The Internet is a great free alternative to a travel agent and can give you advice from other families who have already been there.

5. Don’t Forget Yourself

Sure, this is a family vacation, but don’t forget that you’re a part of the family too.  Plan special attractions just for the kids and ones that your husband will enjoy.  However, also make a point of getting a little “me” time.  Whether it’s a spa appointment or a romantic dinner with your partner, this might be one of your favorite vacation memories.

*A huge thanks to Kendra- guest blogger for this post. Kendra is 37 years old and a mother of 3. Before being promoted to the full time position of mom, she was the former Orbitz Director of Communications where she was able to travel all around the world. She’s been to 28 countries on 6 continents and has been quoted in the news about seasonal travel trends and destinations all over the United States. She has stepped out of the corporate world to take on the role of being number one wife and mom to her family.

With the summer vacation season rapidly approaching I hope to bring you more great tips for traveling with kids from Kendra that will certainly come in handy this summer!

Amazing Things Only Mother’s Do {Mother’s Day}

 

 

Our mother’s do so much for us find out what mom really wants for Mother’s Day.

Via: Promocode4share.com

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It’s Prom Season! {Olive Garden}

Be sure to include Olive Garden in your prom planning to experience these great deals!

• A Special Offer: Prom planning is gearing up, and with all the excitement for the big night often comes empty wallets for teens and families. As the ultimate pre-prom dinner destination, Olive Garden offers prom goers a great meal at an affordable price, and now through June 2, every couple who orders pre-prom dinner will also receive dessert on the house—just come dressed for the dance and mention “prom!”

  

• Picture-Perfect Prom Instagram Contest: Olive Garden is hosting its Picture-Perfect Prom photo-sharing contest on Instagram with a weekly grand prize of a $500 prepaid credit card. Every week of the contest, Olive Garden will also give away five restaurant e-gift cards each valued at $50. Guests can enter now through May 14 by sharing their prom-themed photos on Instagram with #OGProm and following @OfficialOliveGarden. Rules: OfficialOliveGardenRules.com.

Zales “Friend Your Mom” Sweepstakes

This Mother’s Day Zales is celebrating moms everywhere by asking you to join the Movement & Friend Your Mom on Facebook! When you join, you’ll be entered to win a gift from The Diamond Store.

In celebration of Mother’s Day Zales has created this great video of awkward childhood photos and yes one of mine was chosen to be included, I’m not going to tell you which one is me because well it’s a bit embarrassing but I’ll give you a hint I have the most awesome 80’s fluffed up bangs, huge glasses that fill my face and braces. Okay that probably gave it away and you’ll be able to figure it out no problem. I’m sure we all have awkward childhood photos that thanks to our wonderful moms are still hanging around years later.

Be sure to visit Zales Facebook page for more information and to enter to win!

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic- Princess Twilight Sparkle {DVD- April 30th}

Do you have little girls who love My Little Pony? Or are you a parent or adult who remembers playing with My Little Pony toys when you were a child. I fall into both those categories and I love seeing the old toys from the 80’s make a return. My 4 year old daughter was particularly excited about the release of the new My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic- Princess Twilight Sparkle DVD TODAY! Twilight is definitely one of our favorite ponies and I love that the My Little Pony stories all are good family films that talk about the importance of friendship. I love that my four year old watches them but I get even more excited when all of my girls (9,7 and 4 years) watch them together. After watching this movie like all the other My Little Pony movies I’d give it two thumbs up and suggest you pick up your own copy today!

MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC -

PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE

COMING TO DVD FROM SHOUT! FACTORY KIDS ON

APRIL 30, 2013

Twilight Sparkle Earns Her Wings And Becomes A Princess!

All hail the… Princess! My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle is coming to DVD April 30^th from Shout! Factory Kids in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. Princess Twilight Sparkle includes 5 episodes from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, focusing on Twilight’s adventures and the grand coronation event from Season 3 as well as a Sing-Along and Coloring Sheet, and is priced at $14.97 SRP.

Since arriving in Ponyville, Twilight has learned Princess Celestia’s most valuable lesson — the meaning of true friendship. But with every new adventure comes a new lesson and if anyone is up for more learning, it’s the studious Twilight Sparkle!

Now, after completing an important challenge, Twilight has earned her princess wings and has all new adventures and responsibilities as a princess! The 5 episodes on My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle include Princess Twilight Sparkle’s royal coronation. For everyone who loves ponies and princesses, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle is a tale not to be missed!

The My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series is currently airing on The HUB TV Network.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Princess Twilight Sparkle Episodes Include:

Games Ponies Play
Magical Mystery Cure 
MMMystery of the Friendship Express
Magic Duel
Lesson Zero

Bonus Features:

Sing-Along

Coloring Sheet

Also available on DVD from Shout! Factory Kids:

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – Pinkie Pie Party

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – Adventures in the Crystal Empire

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – Season One

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – Royal Pony Wedding

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic – The Friendship Express

My Little Pony - Twinkle Wish Adventure

 

 

About Hasbro Studios:

Hasbro Studios is the Los Angeles-based production division of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS). The studio develops and produces shows based on Hasbro’s world class brands, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and SCRABBLE. Many of these shows air on The Hub, a television network for kids and their families.  Studio programming can also be seen in more than 170 countries globally. The Hub is a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK).

About Shout! Factory:

Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD and Blu-Ray™ offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials in lavish packages crammed with extras.  Shout’s audio division boasts GRAMMY^®-nominated box sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations.  In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast digital distribution network which delivers video and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America.  Shout! Factory also owns and operates Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, HighTone Records and Video Time Machine. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention.  Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com

A Monster in Paris { 3D Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD}

 

 

A MONSTER IN PARIS

Featuring All Star Voice Cast of Vanessa Paradis, Catherine O’Hara, Bob Balaban, Sean Lennon, Adam Goldberg, Jay Harrington, Danny Huston

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MOTION PICTURE

FINALLY ARRIVES IN AMERICA! 

AVAILABLE ON DVD and TWO-DISC BLU-RAY™ 3D COMBO PACK WITH BLU-RAY 2D + DVD + DIGITAL COPYIN STORES EVERYWHERE ON

APRIL 16, 2013

FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

Venture into the delightful Parisian cityscapes 1910s and spellbound by the visually opulent family adventure of A MONSTER IN PARIS, directed and written by Bibo Bergeron (Shark Tale) and produced by world renowned filmmaker Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp and Bergeron’s Bibo Films. With an exceptional English-language voice cast of French singing sensation Vanessa Paradis, singer/song writer Sean Lennon, Catherine  O’Hara (Penelope), Adam Goldberg (A Beautiful Mind), Bob Balaban(For Your Consideration), Danny Huston (Hitchcock) and Jay Harrington (Private Practice), A MONSTER IN PARIS harkens back to the classic tale of beauty and the beast, and delivers vibrant storyline packed with elegant characters, unforgettable song-and-dance musical numbers and beautiful CG animation that the whole family will enjoy! This critically acclaimed international major motion picture also features enchanting, honey-toned vocals by Vanessa Paradis and Sean Lennon, with music score by popular French singer/songwriter Matthieu Chedid (aka M) and Patrice Renson.

On April 16, 2013, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with EuropaCorp, invites kids and families across America to a whimsical world of Parisian adventure and fantasy when Shout! Factory, in collaboration with EuropaCorp, unleash A MONSTER IN PARIS on DVD and on two-disc Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack.  The Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack allows viewers to enjoy A MONSTER IN PARIS on the platform of their choice and includes spectacular movie presentation on Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and a digital copy of the movie compatible with PC, MAC, iTunes, iPhone and AppleTV.

Grab your copy today at your local retailer – Walmart or Target or Amazon.com

(You can grab the DVD pack with digital copy- ONLY at Target)

REVIEW: My kids watched this movie yesterday and thought it was great! They are big fans of Shark Tale (which had the same director) so I knew it would probably be a hit. My four year old sat and watched it for a little while but got distracted while my 7 and 9 year old daughters were mesmerized by it. I'm not sure I'd recommend it for the younger crowd because while it is animated it just doesn't have the really bright colors like some other animated movies and the way they talked and the way the plot line moved seemed to be geared towards an older audience. However now my kids are definitely interested in learning more about France which is great because I'm always looking for entertaining educational opportunities. So be sure to download the activity link above and the recipes here in this post. I know my kids and I will be trying some of them out this week.

Take Your Child to Work Day 4/25 {Kid’s Eat Free at Olive Garden}

 

 

Tomorrow is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day!

The 20^th anniversary of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is tomorrow (April 25), and there’s no better time for families to talk about the endless future possibilities than over lunch or dinner! In honor of the day, Olive Garden is offering one free children’s menu item (children under 12) for every adult entrée purchased using the coupon that can be downloaded at OliveGarden.com/Coupon.

Umi + aden & anais Baby Shower {$500 SWEEPSTAKES}

 

 

Who doesn’t love a great sweepstakes with your chance to win a $500 prize package?!

Combine Umi, aden & anais & Ella’s Kitchen and you’ve got a dynamic prize package. 

Be sure to fly on over to the site and enter to win right now!

Click HERE to enter to win!

Olive Garden & LongHorn Steakhouse {Spring Savings}

For date night this weekend my husband and I decided to stop in LongHorn Steakhouse. I’ve been hearing such yummy things about it and living in Texas we now have one nearby. We both took advantage of the “5 Great Steaks. 1 Great Price” deal starting at just $11.99. He had the Bacon-Wrapped Bourbon Sirloin- you can’t go wrong with anything  wrapped in bacon and I had the Loaded Sirloin which was basically a baked potato on top of a sirloin- yum! We also decided to try the Wild West Shrimp starter under recommendation from the server and it did not disappoint. I’d probably go back just for the appetizer! The steaks were good but the shrimp was to die for! He mentioned that it was a big seller and a favorite by many and I can see why. So be sure to take advantage of the yummy savings below this Spring and enjoy your favorites and make some new favorites at the same time!

Steak lovers: It’s time for LongHorn’s “5 Great Steaks. 1 Great Price,” starting at just $11.99 (through May 12).

• Choose from steak favorites such as the Bacon-Wrapped Bourbon Sirloin and Parmesan-Crusted Sirloin, or try something new with LongHorn’s Grilled Portabella Sirloin. There are five savory topped sirloins to choose from, all served with choice of side and salad, so be sure to stop in today!

Want to check tomorrow’s dinner plans off today’s to-do list?  Enjoy two meals with Olive Garden’s “Buy One, Take One” offer, only $12.95 (through May 5).

• Olive Garden is giving busy families a convenient and affordable way to enjoy two meals during the week. Guests can enjoy one of five entrées along with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks at a restaurant and take a second entrée home for dinner tomorrow! Choices include Olive Garden’s new Mezzaluna Ravioli with Five Cheese Marinara and favorites such as Five Cheese Ziti al Forno.

Best of Walden! {Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD}

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy seems to be a favorite around our house not only with my four year old but also with my 7 and 9 year old daughters. So we were excited to hear about the new Best of Walden! DVD and receive a copy. This movie staring the one and only Walden, Wubbzy’s good friend and Wuzzleburg’s top thinker, is available on DVD as of April 9th. So be sure to grab your copy today!

Young viewers will catch Walden’s contagious curiosity for non-stop fun, fun, fun in the stand-out collection of seven engaging episodes!  Fans are in for a sweet treat when Walden bakes a marshmallow lasagna for Wubbzy in “Perfecto Party,” plays his “hoopty horn” in “Goo Goo Grief,” and collects figgety-fig leaves with his best pals in “The Last Leaf!”  Best of Walden (SRP: $14.98) also features episodes “Mr. Cool,” “Woozy Walden,” “Walden on the Beach” – and a super special bonus episode, “Come Spy with Me!”  Cool coloring and activity sheets and dance-inducing music videos are included on the DVD, too!

Produced by Bolder Media, Inc. in association with Starz Media’s Film Roman Animation Studio, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! has been a hit with young viewers and families since its 2006 premiere on Nickelodeon^®. The top-rated series, which airs daily on Nick Jr^®, supports preschool social skills – sharing, listening, compromising, helping and appreciating others, self-awareness and the use of humor as a coping skill.  Although their world is more fanciful and imaginative than our own, Wubbzy and his friends deal with the same social and developmental issues faced by preschoolers.  They learn how they fit into a group, how to understand their own feelings and those of others, how to get along with one another and about the value of friendship and community.

To catch up with more Wow! Wow! Wubbzy fun be sure to check out @WWWubbzy on Twitter.

Curious George Swings into Spring {Earth Day, April 22nd}

Are you gearing up for Earth Day with some fun activities? If you don’t have any planned or could use a few extras be sure to check out these fun activities below to help celebrate spring and Earth Month with Curious George. Remember you don’t have to celebrate only on April 22nd, you can celebrate all month long! My four year old and I love Curious George so we will definitely be tuning in to our local listings to find out when the special premiere of “Curious George Swings into Spring” will be airing.

Don’t forget to check out these fun activities to help celebrate spring and Earth Month!

“Let’s Build a Bird Feeder” (Instructions)

• Material needed: 1 set of chopsticks & birdseed

“Make a Pinwheel” (Instructions)

• Materials needed: pencil, push pin

“Curious George’s Recycling Challenge"

• Materials needed: crayons, 3 bins for recycling

 

Celebrate Earth Day with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

This Earth Day, pitch in with your preschoolers to help make every day a beautiful day in your neighborhood!

An extra-special, all new episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the top-rated PBS KIDS series from The Fred Rogers Company, premiers on April 22 (check local listings) - just in time to help young viewers learn the importance of cleaning up, picking up and recycling.

The new show features two adorable stories.  In Neighborhood Clean Up, a wind storm blows through town making a mess of the Neighborhood playground and no one can play.  King Friday proclaims that it is “Clean Up Day” and everyone helps restore the playground by throwing out and recycling the trash.  The Neighborhood children – along with young viewers at home – learn that, by working together, the playground can be ready for play again in no time!  And in Clean Up Time, Daniel and his best friend O the Owl are playing “farm” at Daniel’s house.  They are having a lot of fun, but are also making quite a mess!  After losing his watch in a messy room, Daniel realizes that cleaning up and putting his toys away will help him find it.  And the great clean-up begins!

Inspired by Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and the upcoming special Earth Day-themed episode, here are some simple and fun ideas for celebrating the special day (and Mother Earth) together:

• Proclaim your own “Clean Up Day”!  Tidy up your yard, and clean out the winter clutter.  While you’re at it, find out what kind of trees, plants and wildlife are “at home” in your backyard and neighborhood, too!
• Plant a garden!  Pick out the kinds of vegetables you’d like to grow or design a flower bed together – kids love to get their hands dirty!  If you live in an apartment, you can create a beautiful flower or herb garden right on your terrace or windowsill.
• Help beautify a park or playground!  Get a group of parents and preschoolers
  together and visit a local park to help make sure that it’s trash free and ready for playtime!
• Recycle together!  Invite your children to get in on the act of recycling! Have them assist you in tying up those newspapers and magazines, collecting the cans and bottles, crunching the cardboard boxes – and making sure that everything goes in its proper bin.

We are definitely going to be teaching my four year old more about recycling and having a “clean up day” in our own yard.

Don’t forget to tune-in to the brand-new Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Earth Day episode together!

$100 Visa Gift Card GIVEAWAY {Simply Southern Couponers}

 

 

Welcome to Simply Southern Couponers 10K Fans Celebration Giveaway

Hosted by: Simply Southern Couponers

Co-hosted by: My Four Littles, Four Littles Media, Miss beSavin, Boys Oh Boys - Reviews, Giveaways and More, Giveaway Jungle, Luker Family Tales, Exotic Philippines, Frugal Follies

A special thanks to all of the bloggers for helping promote this event! This event would not be possible with out their help. Be sure to stop by and visit them all.

Simply Southern Couponers is excited to celebrate her milestone of reaching 10,000 Facebook Fans. To show her appreciation she is giving one lucky viewer a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card.

I always get excited when people reach milestones and who doesn’t love a great giveaway?! So be sure to enter for your chance to win and hop on over to Simply Southern Couponers and congratulate her for reaching this milestone!

April 6, 2013-May 5, 2013 Open World Wide Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

One lucky winner will a $100 Visa Gift Card!

To enter simply complete below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. Simply Southern Couponers is responsible for prize fulfillment. All entries will be verified. This giveaway is in no way associated, endorsed with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google.

Easter Meal Ideas {2013)

What’s on your list for your Easter meal? I love just about anything and everything food and trying new things so when it comes to holidays that’s my favorite part and I always love seeing what everyone else is planning on having so I thought I’d share my menu.

Drop Biscuits with Sausage Gravy- Pioneer Woman

For breakfast we will be doing biscuits and gravy with strawberries on the side. I was going to do a big huge breakfast and really wanted to do a brunch but we go to church at noon so we decided to try and keep things simple but here are a few other yummy recipes that I would have liked to add to our brunch.

Eggs in Hash Brown Nests- Pioneer Woman

Fruit Salad with Orange-Vanilla Syrup- Pioneer Woman

Sticking with the Pioneer Woman theme, because she’s got so many yummy recipes- check out her Glazed Baked Ham and Ham Gravy Recipes. We decided to do a simple small maple ham from the grocery store- I know we just won’t eat a huge ham, even the half hams they had were too much for our little family but if you’re doing a big meal and entertaining these would be great.

Glazed Baked Ham- Pioneer Woman

Ham Gravy- Pioneer Woman

I did decide to make these yummy 1 hour rolls.

One Hour Rolls- What’s On Your Menu

Of course you can’t have Easter without dessert and I decided on something light and springy instead of chocolate, even if chocolate is my most favorite thing ever I figure by Sunday evening I’ll be all chocolated out.

 

Missy’s Lemon and Blueberry Cupcakes- Pioneer Woman

I wish we had more time this year on Sunday to prep and cook and I wish we were entertaining so I could justify making large amounts of delicious food so I will enjoy the pictures and dream of the day I’ll be doing that and enjoy our biscuits and gravy, strawberries, small little ham, rolls, green beans and lemon blueberry cupcakes. That sounds good enough to me – plus less extravagance in food means less clean up right .

Disney’s PLANES {August 9th}

 

Are you as excited for this new movie as I am?

Disney’s PLANES releases in theaters everywhere on August 9th!

Upcoming Visa Gift Card Giveaway! {Calling all Bloggers!}

Simply Southern Couponers 10,000 Fan Celebration!

 

 

Sign-ups are now open! This event is free to join with an announcement post here. You will receive one free link for participating. If you do not wish to post the announcement you can pay a $5 non-post fee. (Twitter or Pinterest) Co-Host spots are available for $15 (4 Links on Rafflecopter, link on giveaway post and one host page) Follow Pages are available for $10 Additional Links $2 each 

Sign-ups end April 3rd. Giveaway runs April 6th-May 5th.

*Prize* One lucky winner will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card

*The blogger with the most referrals will receive a Co-host spot at no cost* Please send PayPal to jgseigler@yahoo.com as a gift.

Sign-up Here!

SIMPLY RIGHT Baby Care {Diapers & Wipes- Sam’s Club}

When it comes to buying products for your baby do you get just as confused as I do? There are way too many brands out there all with different features that kind of sound the same at all kinds of different prices. Of course as a mother who wants what’s best for her baby at a great price that makes things a little difficult. Normally I’d just go with the lowest price items but in experience that doesn’t always mean they are the best and when it comes to diapers you don’t want something where your baby is going to be soaked through their clothes in the morning (yes I’ve had that experience with cheap diapers) but you also don’t want to pay an arm and a leg just to buy diapers.

SIMPLY RIGHT products can be purchased at Sam's  Club where you can save up to $392 a year and who doesn’t like saving money while getting a great product at the same time?! SIMPLY RIGHT baby wipes are great in strength while their texture is both soft and thick which provides better cleaning ability. They are also hypoallergenic and fragrance free and just to add a little special extra touch to keep your baby’s bottom soft they have packed them with Aloe and Vitamin E, which can also be great for those little bums that are a tad more delicate. I’ve found SIMPLY RIGHT diapers to be just as great as the more expensive brands I’ve been wasting my money on. SIMPLY RIGHT diapers are meant to equally impress with their extra stretchy side panels and waist that creates a custom fit for baby. These diapers also have great leakage protection- what every mother wants in a diaper- and thin flexible fit! Add in the 3-Point Soft Stretch System that provides a custom fit and helps prevent leaks and you’ve got yourself a 1st rate diaper!

So what are you going to do with the $392 a year you’ll be saving by buying SIMPLY RIGHT diapers? Hmmm maybe I’ll start a college fund for my baby or maybe I’ll do something fun like going on a vacation without baby .

So take out the guesswork of buying diapers and wipes for baby and simplify your life by purchase SIMPLY RIGHT diapers today.

SIMPLY RIGHT diapers are great for my little one on the go. No fuss no muss get the diaper on and he’s off and the great part it, it stays on!

For a FREE sample of SIMPLY RIGHT™ diapers or wipes, visit http://simplyrightbabycare.com/sample.html today!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SIMPLY RIGHT™ Baby Care Products.

HireInfluence {Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card!}

Ever wish you were an early adopter of the next up-and-coming online platform? Well, now’s your chance! Go activate your profile on HireInfluence with your Twitter account and you’ll be one of the cool kids too. I just activated my profile and found out my social media strength factor. Now, I can use that info to build brand relationships and approach companies that I’d like to work with thanks to the fully-detailed social media influence report. Best of all, those brands and companies can now find me easily as well. Hurry to HireInfluence (http://bit.ly/hireinf) and jump on the #strengthfactor bandwagon!

If you activate your profile before March 25th, you’ll be automatically entered to win 1 of 3 $100 Amazon gift cards!

More info about HireInfluence:

As the first social media platform that goes beyond an influencer score by gauging real, impactful influence with quantified results, HireInfluence will change the game on who is considered "influential" and how companies approach marketing campaigns.

For consumers, HireInfluence is a platform that allows them to showcase their abilities, be discovered by companies looking for advocates and validate their social ability – showing a true social footprint.

For companies, by giving a 360-degree view of an individual's social media and work history, HireInfluence allows companies to quickly research and immediately identify the most impactful brand and product advocates for a marketing campaign or do a "social media background check" on a candidate.

"Other platforms simply score influence, but HireInfluence has created the gold standard in identifying and engaging marketing professionals. Nowhere else can a business instantly find impactful, influential advocates based on its specific search criteria," said Jason Pampell , HireInfluence CEO and Founder. "From hiring advocates for a campaign to filling a permanent position, companies want to be sure that who they make an investment in will deliver, and HireInfluence has taken the criteria that companies need to make that decision and built a platform around it."

Some of the capabilities and highlights of the HireInfluence interface include:

• Search – A search engine that gives businesses unprecedented search criteria options to strategically identify and leverage "Networking Superstars" in their target market or industry.
• Proprietary Score – A "Strength Factor" score based on real influence, to include the level of impact the influencer has via each social channel, as well as real work experience within specific industries.
• Social analyzing – A first-to-market aggregation and validation of the results, to include demographics of friends and followers, location of influence, key words used and engaged vs. fake followers, to name a few.
• Star Rating – Each person's profile has a star rating given by other companies as well as rankings against other Networkers to "recruit with confidence."
• Social Media Background Check - Printed profile for a sales or promotional employment opportunity.

Creative Design Tips- Event {Ikea, Family Circle & Celebrity Designer}

Looking for some new fun and refreshing creative design tip to refresh your space?

Join Family Circle and Celebrity Designer Dad Stephen Saint-Orge this Saturday, March 9th at the Renton, WA Ikea store for this Free Life Improvement Seminar.

There will even be some fun gift giveaways for those who attend.

It's official we are all packed up and ready to go! Today we leave rainy Seattle weather for some beautiful Texas sunshine! That's right my family and I are moving to Austin, Texas. Officially it's called Round Rock (20 miles north of Austin).

The kids are going to school for a little bit this morning so they can say goodbye to their friends and we can finish up the last minute details here and then we're out. We have a long road trip ahead of us and the hubby is staying behind to finish out work here for a few weeks so it'll be my mom and brother-in-law making the trip with us. We are excited for the new adventures this will be brining to our family!

 

Valentine’s Day 2013 {Lots of Fun & Yummy Treats!}

The day before Valentine’s day I found out that our Valentine’s babysitter wasn’t going to be able to make it (for my husband and I to go out to eat) so I changed all my plans and decided to put a positive spin on it rather then be upset. I knew I wouldn’t be able to find a babysitter for the busiest night of the year last minute. I had seen so many fun and cute things on Pinterest and I decided to be the mom who goes all out.

BREAKFAST:

First we started with breakfast- Land ‘O Lakes- French Toast with Strawberry Butter- the strawberry butter was so yummy and definitely worth it! I used Texas Toast and cut each piece into heart shapes- actually I cut the toast into hearts for the kids and then got tired of doing it so my husband and I got square pieces of toast. We topped it off with powdered sugar and strawberries and a family favorite strawberry milk. The kids got cute Valentine’s Day shirts, balloons and stuffed puppies before they left for school. For my little boy I got a cute green stuffed Alligator but he hated it. It was so funny all day people were trying to hand it to him and he just swatted it away or took it from them and threw it on the floor. I’m not sure what his aversion to it was but he doesn’t like it.

They went to school with cuter hair then they have in this picture but I didn’t snap a picture of that- this is them just rolled out of bed, hey at least they’re dressed!

LUNCH:

Kid’s Lunches- for the kid’s school lunches I made peanut butter sandwiches and used heart shaped cookie cutters and then dipped them in melted chocolate chips. They also got a slice of cheese cut in the shape of a heart, strawberries and little heart shaped treats (store bought). I totally forgot about their drink but luckily they didn’t finish their strawberry milk at breakfast and had that in their backpacks so they were covered.

DINNER – VALENTINE’S PARTY:

For dinner we had a big Valentine’s Party that I spent the entire day preparing for. It was quite a bit of work especially with two little ones at home that were demanding of attention all day but totally worth it!

My four year old and I spent the day cutting our hearts and hanging them up, blowing up balloons with our helium tank and decorating the table with lots of cute accessories.

Brown Sugar Blondies – I used dark chocolate Valentine’s themed M&M’s

I decided to do something fancy for drinks so I bought these martini glasses at the dollar store put a little red sprinkle sugar around the rim, attached a strawberry and made strawberry lemonade- my husband’s favorite! (We aren’t alcohol drinkers so it always takes a little bit to try and get creative.)

The kids were so excited for dinner they were jumping with energy from the sugar they had at school and then to see a table full of sugar just made them crazy- we definitely paid for it later. I love this picture of my daughter and little boy, he’s blurry because he was excitedly waving. The kid’s special drink was Strawberry Jones Soda. We don’t drink soda in our house either so this was a huge treat!

Oh and the girl’s little plastic cups were full of goodies. Valentine’s pencils, a fun straw for them to use to drink their Jones Soda, a box of sparkly conversation hearts and a little coupon book I made.

Heart Shaped Pizza from Papa Murphy’s – only $8 – well after the substitutions I made (1/2 pepperoni and 1/2 pineapple it was $9)

Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese cut into heart shapes and cucumbers cut into heart shapes for our salad. That little metal heart shaped cookie cutter served quite a few different uses for today’s celebrations.

Our store bought treats- chocolate strawberries for the kids and an éclair for my husband and I to share. Some things are just better store bought because it’s less stress for me- however my sister-in-law’s éclairs are to die for- much better then these ones from the Fred Meyer bakery, even though they were good.

 

And of course just had to share this picture of my daughter in her cute Valentine’s Outfit being silly.

I also made chocolate sugar cookies with pink frosting that the girls were going to decorate for an activity after dinner but I was so tired from my day full of craziness that we decided to save it for tomorrow when the girls get out of school early. Oh and that recipe for chocolate sugar cookies- I’m not a huge sugar cookie fan, except for the soft ones you can get in the store with the pink frosting those are yummy- but the dough on these chocolate ones was SO GOOD! I haven’t tried the cookies yet but I’m sure they’ll be way better than any sugar cookies I’ve ever made.