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@Pillsbury #PotluckParty #Recipes, Video, #Coupons and More! #MyBlogSpark

December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago I shared with you that I was hosting a Pillsbury Potluck Party and asked you to vote on the recipe that I should bring to the party.  It was pretty much a landslide that everyone thought that I should bring Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars.  This suggestion was right on the money!  It was everyone’s favorite of all of the recipes shared that evening.  The combination of the chocolate chip cookie dough and creamcheese was divine.  I mean, who doesn’t love cheesecake?  It was so easy to make and so delicious that this will be something that I bring to holiday parties from here on out!

 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bar Recipe

Prep Time: 10 Min

Total Time: 3 Hr 20 Min

Makes: 16 bars

INGREDIENTS
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut, if desired
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip cookies

DIRECTIONS
1 Heat oven to 350°F. In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in coconut. 2 In ungreased, 9- or 8-inch square pan, break up half of cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Spread cream cheese mixture over dough. Crumble and sprinkle remaining half of dough over cream cheese mixture. 3 Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store in refrigerator.

Nutritional Information
1 Serving (1 Bar)

Calories 200
(Calories from Fat 90),

Total Fat 10g  (Saturated Fat 4 1/2g, Trans Fat 1g),
Cholesterol 35mg;
Sodium 135mg;
Total Carbohydrate 25g
(Dietary Fiber 0g,
Sugars 18g),
Protein 2g;

My Pillsbury Potluck Party

I hosted my party at my in-laws house because everyone there loves to cook and share recipes.  I thought that this would be such a fun way for the whole family, including my husband’s extended family and brothers, to get together and share food, fun and family.   Plus I was able to prove to my in-laws that I can cook… occasionally.  Well desserts at least!  Below is a video I made that features my family, the recipes shared and the great time we had together during the Pillsbury Potluck.

 

It’s Not Too Late to Host Your Own Pillsbury Potluck Party – Coupons Anyone?

If you need tons of great recipes or inspiration to create your own masterpiece be sure to check out the Ideas Made Easy on Pillsbury.com.  From appetizers to desserts you will be sure to find great ideas that are perfect for any party, potluck or even as a hostess gift!

Plus you can read reviews and get tips from other members of the Pillsbury community before you make the recipe so you needn’t worry if the dish will be a hit or a miss with your guests.

Don’t forget that you can connect with Pillsbury for great recipe ideas everyday by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Get your coupons and get inspired today!

 

 

 

Disclosure: The Pillsbury product, information, food ideas, online coupon link, and prize pack have been provided by Pillsbury through MyBlogSpark.

Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Chic Mom Finds, comfort foods, coupon, discounts and coupons, Fab Discounts, family activities, family budgeting, Family Dinner Ideas, Holiday treat display, Party Planning, party planning tips, party tips, recipes, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Crayola Has Great #GiftIdeas for Under the Tree This Year! – #Review and #Giveaway

December 13, 2011 By 126 Comments

There are some classic gifts that I always like to put under the tree.  Crayola is one of them!  Crayola has so many wonderfully creative ideas that bring out the imagination in children.  Some of my favorite “Santa” presents to get for the kids are from Crayola.  Each year Crayola comes out with fantastic new products in addition to the classics and I am so excited to share some of them with you!  Any of these would make great gifts for the kids on your list this year.

 

Crayola Jewelry Boutique

With the new Crayola Jewelry Boutique, kids can become their own jewelry designers! Crayola put a unique “spin” on jewelry making with a special “jewelry spinner” that creates multi-colored beads using Crayola Model Magic. As kids spin their beads into shapes, they can string them together to create original bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and pendants that reflect their own personal style. Let the designing begin!

  • By combining eye-popping colors to create unique beads with the Jewelry Boutique “spinner,” the amount of fun and creativity is endless because no two beads turn out exactly the same!

 

  • For a dazzling finish, coat designs with bead glaze. For even more sparkle and pizzazz, add gems, and interchangeable pendant and bracelet charms!

Recommended for children ages 6+, each Jewelry Boutique kit includes 8 packs of Crayola Model Magic to mold 160 beads, 5 bracelet charms, 3 pendant charms, 2 shape cutters, a bead dryer rack, 5 toggle sets, 4 earring posts and ear wires, a bead punch, 18 gems, 2 necklace cords, 1 elastic cord, bead glaze, and the Jewelry Boutique Spinner with storage areas and retails for $24.99.

 


Crayola Glow Book

Let your kids’ imaginations run free this holiday season while creating glowing, moving art with the Crayola Glow Book. Turn the lights out and watch their artwork come alive on each page and appear as if it is actually moving!

Using special glowing-ink markers to draw on each of the four clear pages, kids can choose one of the four tracing guides to create original scenes, signs and messages, and arrange them in their desired order. Then, just hit the lights and allow your kids to wow you with wildly colorful, glowing animated scenes. Variable light settings create colorful, multi-layered effects. The Crayola Glow Book wipes off easily so kids can use their imaginations to create endless glowing artwork! A simple wet cloth will do.

Recommended for children ages 6+, the kit includes one Glow Book with 4 clear pages, 4 animation tracing guides and 6 glow markers and retails for $24.99.

 

Crayola’s Telescoping Crayon Tower and Ultimate Art Supply Case

For everyday inspiration and creativity, be sure to keep Crayola’s Telescoping Crayon Tower and all-inclusive Ultimate Art Supplies case handy, so they’re can always be prepared to create! Filled with crayons and all of the classic art tools for drawing and painting, kids can share their creativity through colorful works of art! The Telescoping Crayon Tower and Ultimate Art Supplies casemake great gifts every child can use to jumpstart their creativity.

  • The Telescoping Crayon Tower puts limitless color at kids’ fingertips and compacts neatly for storage with 150 Crayola Crayons and a built-in sharpener for extra convenience.
  • There are no limits to a child’s imagination with the all-in-one, portable Ultimate Art Supply Kit.

Recommended for children 4+, the Ultimate Art Supply Kit contains 24 crayons, 8 washable broad line markers, 12 colored pencils, 8 washable watercolors, 1 paint brush, school glue, scissors, and colored paper and retails for $16.99. The Crayon Tower retails for $17.99.

My boys had so much fun playing with the Crayola products. The only thing I set aside was the Jewelry Boutique because the product is more on the feminine side.  I am definitely saving it though to pass on to my 7 year old niece as one of her Christmas presents from us this year.  I know that she will have so much fun making her own jewelry.

For some reason my sons are all enamored by markers- which I hate.  I like crayons better because they don’t run or leak and you don’t have to worry about them drying out.  I have had the hardest time selling crayons to the boys to use until they got the Crayon Tower.  All of sudden crayons are cool again!  They think that its great how it goes up and down and they love to see the crayons in tower form.  My three year old is really trying to figure out the crayon sharpener though.  We all thought that the inclusion of the metallic and glitter crayons are awesome to color with.  I am a bit jealous that I didn’t have these cool crayons when I was growing up!

The Ultimate Art Supply Case has everything your child could need to create a work of art.  I love that its all contained in a handy case that can easily be taken to grandma’s too.   Everything has its place and doesn’t fall loose when contained.  I will admit that the case can be a bit tricky to open but even if one of the sides falls out the contents are contained.  My only suggestion for the kit would be to include some white paper in addition to construction paper.  I love pictures drawn on white paper sometimes too.

If you need some new ideas for coloring pages be sure to check out Crayola.com?StoryStudio because they have a great tool called the Story Studio.  You can upload pictures from your digital camera and then the studio transforms them into coloring pages!  This would make such a great gift for grandma!  You could print out a great picture of grandma and the kids and then have them color them.  Once done you can have them framed and give Grandma a piece of artwork that will pull at her heartstrings!  Very affordable and thoughtful.

My husband’s birthday was last week and my sons all got together and used the kit and the tower to create their very own special birthday card for their Dad.  My oldest two drew a picture of themselves with their Dad and my youngest scribbled and doodled but insisted on multiple pages and that we glue them together so his creation was very unique.  Below are pictures of each of them with their card.

 

Even though they are all different ages its nice to see that they all enjoy the creativity that Crayola brings to the table.  I love seeing them share ideas and get their creative juices flowing.  The cards they made definitely put a smile on their Daddy’s face as well as their own.

Crayola has so many great kits and activities out.  My boys loved the Crayon Tower so much that Santa is bringing them a Marker Tower too!  I only mentioned a handful of products offered so be sure to check out the Crayola Holiday Gift Guide and see all the options available for what will fit the personalities and ages of the children on your list.

Don’t forget to follow Crayola on Facebook and on Twitter for all the latest Crayola ideas and innovations.

 

Win It!

One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win a Crayola Prize Pack!  The prize pack will include one of each of the products mentioned above:

  • Crayon Tower
  • Glow Book
  • Ultimate Art Supply Kit
  • Jewelry Boutique

 

Mandatory entry for this giveaway will be to leave a comment on this post telling me which of these products from Crayola would you most like to give as a gift to a special child in your life to inspire creativity, and why?

Entry is easy.  After you leave a comment on the post be sure to click “I did this” on the Rafflecopter widget below.  Don’t forget about the extra entries too!

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Chic Little Kid Finds, children, Christmas gift ideas, Christmas Toys, crafts for kids, fun gifts, gifts for kids, Giveaways, My Blog Spark, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Celebrate the #Holidays With #Movies On Demand – #Visa #Giftcard #Prize Pack #Giveaway

December 6, 2011 By 204 Comments

One of our favorite things to do as a family is watch movies.  Over the last year we have all really enjoyed having a family movie day on Sundays.  Its our day to veg out and just eat and hang out together.  Prior to Sunday my husband and I check out all the great movies that are on demand via our cable provider to plot out what we are going to watch that weekend.  Actually we really like to pick out two movies, one for the whole family on Sunday and one just for us that we can watch in our bedroom on Friday or Saturday night sans children.  There are so many new releases each week and because we don’t often get out to the theater there is usually something that one or both of us really want to see.

Movies On Demand are so convenient and easy – I just love it!  I really like that there isn’t a need for a debit card or anything like that, it just simply gets added to my monthly cable bill.  It’s fun and affordable family entertainment and something that we do much more of during the holiday season while the kids are on winter break.

One of my guiltiest pleasures is watching movies from the comfort of my bed.  I love watching movies with my husband too but I confess that if there are chick flicks that I know for certain that he will not want to see I watch them by myself when he is gone at work. I may have to pause it a million times from the boys interrupting me but its still one of my favorite ways to relax after a rough morning.

If you are still not convinced that Movies On Demand are as awesome as I think it is check out this video that points out some great reasons why you should take advantage of it.

I am always watching shows and movies on demand and every day I see movie critic Leonard Maltin sharing his top picks that week for Movies On Demand.  He always has interesting picks and shares some great insight about each movie that he recommends.

 

As I mentioned earlier, Movies On Demand has great new releases each week.  Today, 12/6, Movies On Demand released Cowboys & Aliens, The Hangover 2 and The Help.  I haven’t seen Cowboys & Aliens but the trailer looks good.  I have seen the the other two but my husband hasn’t seen The Help and even though it seems like a chick flick its really a movie for everyone to see.  I would definitely order that on Demand just so he could watch it and I would love to see it again.

On Friday, 12/9, Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom is set to release.  This was a such a fun family movie to see and if you haven’t seen it yet getting it On Demand this weekend would be a great way to share some family fun in between all the frantic holiday shopping and planning.

Also, if you want to see new trailers, interviews and more you can visit the Movies On Demand YouTube Channel.  I just say a trailer for Sarah’s Key and it looks so good that I think I will recommend it to my husband for this weekend.

For more fun Movies On Demand new releases and to stay up to date with what’s going on be sure to “like” their facebook page.  There is also a Holiday Movies tab too so you can see what movies are available to watch with your family this holiday season.  While your visiting their page be sure to check out some fun apps like List it! or Click Your Flick and share them with your friends.

List It! is a sweepstakes widget that allows you to list your top five movie picks from the list inspired by The Hangover 2.  By submitting your list you are automatically entered in a daily drawing for a $5 Movies On Demand credit and for the grand prize of a brand new 46″3D TV.  Talk about a Merry Christmas!

Click Your Flick is a great way to help you decide which movie you most want to see – and if you still can’t decide you can ask your friends to weigh in!  How cool is that?  The app asks you to choose from two movies and with each selection it narrows down what you would rather see based on the answers you give.  Then it ultimately gives you the two options to choose from.  If you still can’t decide post it on your wall and leave it up to your friends to help.  It was really cool to play with and there were descriptions of lots of movies that I know I would have skimmed over based on their title but reading the description and seeing a picture helped to get me interested in some new movies.

 

Win a Movies On Demand Visa Gift Card Prize Pack!

One Pretty Pink Momma reader will win a $25 Visa Gift Card, a Fast Five T-shirt, and a Movies on Demand tote bag!  What a great way to get started on enjoying your favorite Movies On Demand for the holidays!

Entry is easy.  Simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.  For the mandatory entry simply tell me which new release this week are you most likely to rent: Cowboys & Aliens, The Help, The Hangover 2 or Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom.

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Giveaways, Mom Spark Media, movie review, Reviews, VISA Gift Card Tagged With:

I’m Hosting a Pillsbury Potluck Party! Take the Poll – What Should I Make?

November 21, 2011 By 4 Comments

Ever wonder just what to bring to that holiday potluck or get together?  I know that I have!  To be honest, I love to cook but when it comes to easy and delicious potluck ideas – I’m fresh out.  I never know what to bring unless someone specifically tells me.  In most cases that means I pick up something pre-made from the store.

And  to be totally honest, when it comes to the holidays I spend it at my in-laws and they are amazing cooks, so they never ask for anything except ingredients.  I am a bit spoiled in that regard.  But I have also built up a somewhat false reputation with them that I am not a very good cook.  Which isn’t totally true.  I really only built my reputation that way because I never have a chance to cook for them and they don’t really allow it, so after 13 years they have just assumed that I am a terrible cook.  I just didn’t say otherwise to correct them – cause I know a good deal when I see one!

This year I want to surprise them a little.  Well a lot.  I’m going to be hosting a Pillsbury Potluck Party at their house!  They will love to see me in the kitchen and I know that it will be a lot of fun for them to see what my friends come up with.  I even plan on getting my husband’s teenage brothers involved to see what they want to make for the Potluck party.

I had no idea but there are SO many EASY and DELICIOUS recipes available at Pillsbury.com.  Tons have five ingredients or less!  Talk about an easy appetizer or dessert idea!

So my problem now is trying to figure out just what I’m going to make for everyone at the Pillsbury Potluck…  I have narrowed it down to six choices but I need your help in deciding what to make.  First here are the six ideas that I loved the most:

So to make it super easy for you I have added a Poll widget so that I can easily see what the majority vote is.  The recipe that has the most votes will be the one that I will make!

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Chic Mom Finds, chocolate desserts, comfort foods, easy dinner, family budgeting, Family Dinner Ideas, Featured Article, My Blog Spark, Party Planning, quick dinner idea, recipes Tagged With: , ,

Commemorate the Holiday Season This Year With a Personalized Ornament From Ornaments With Love

November 20, 2011 By 35 Comments

We love Christmas ornaments in our house!  In fact, we have so many that each year we have to pick and choose which ones will actually end up on the tree.  Our favorites are the personalized ornaments, we have several different types and love them all!    They also make great gifts for families and couples!  Last year we found tons of great options for personalized ornaments at www.OrnamentsWithLove.com.  They really know their stuff and is run by a family that has been in the retail gifts business for over 50 years!  They have been selling personalized Christmas ornaments for the last 16 years.

This was what we picked out last year!

About Ornaments With Love – taken from www.OrnamentsWithLove.com

 2000+ Personalized Christmas Ornaments

Perhaps you’ve struggled to find the perfect gift for someone or run out of ideas of what to get. A personalized Christmas ornament is a relatively small and inexpensive gift, but it leaves a lasting impression, huge smiles and becomes a “priceless” treasured possession to the one that receives it. Our ornaments can be purchased with the recipients name on it or with a personal message such as “World’s Greatest Dad” or “#1 Dad”. They also come in a variety of different themes, such as sports, hobbies, weddings, graduations, engagements, expecting mothers, birthdays, birth of baby, and other special occasions. Every ornament is beautifully personalized with names and dates at no additional cost to you and is meticulously wrapped and shipped with a whole lotta love! Yes, its true what they say, great things do come in small packages! Order one of these treasured possessions today and find out what people are absolutely raving about.

The Review

My husband browsed Ornaments With Love forever with me and finally it was a unanimous decision that this family ornament was our favorite.  My husband is SO Christmas crazy that he insisted on being a part of the selection process.  Which is funny because in the end he chose what I had picked out anyways – go figure!

I love it and I think that it came out extremely well.  Its made of resin and the colors are bright and cheery.  We finally have an ornament with all five of our names on it!  Please excuse the fact that the picture is not as great as last years, our tree isn’t up quite yet.

The ornament comes very neatly packaged and padded with care so you don’t have to worry about any breakage issues.  It also comes with a cute little cellophane bag perfect for holiday gift giving.

I only have one complaint about the ornament selection. I wish that they had skin tone options available for the ornaments that feature people. Don’t get me wrong, I love our ornament, but it would make it that much more personalized if the Dad wasn’t a white guy because my husband isn’t white. And our kids aren’t completely white either… their mixed. Hopefully this is something that they can work on for 2013.

You can find ornaments based on family ties, professions, hobbies, pets, picture frames – you name it and they probably have it!  So if you are a personalized ornament junkie like me you gotta check out Ornaments With Love!  Christmas ornaments make great stocking stuffers and would be a fun addition to the top of any present you are giving this year.  Plus, they are fun to pick out for yourself too!  

Oh yeah!  Don’t forget to like the Ornaments With Love Facebook Fan Page too!

Win It!

Ornaments With Love is offering one lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader a personalized ornament of their very own! Entry is super easy via this Rafflecopter Widget below.  For the mandatory entry in a comment below tell me if you are trying to win this ornament for yourself or to create as a gift for someone else.  Then click “I did this!” on the widget to complete your entry.  Good luck! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Giveaways, Ornaments With Love, personalized ornaments, resin ornaments, Reviews Tagged With: ,

CouponCodes4U.com is Here to Help You #Save this #Holiday Season

November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As soon as we start putting away the Halloween decorations and the trick or treat bags filled with empty candy wrappers we know its time.  Time for the holiday shopping frenzy to begin!  And begin it has.

Like you, my eyes have been peeled, looking for the best deals an discounts that would not only make great gifts but save me tons of cash in the process.  Its an art to be able to find the perfect gift for someone when you are on a budget.  But there is no greater satisfaction than the recipient feeling like you dropped a pretty penny on them when reality you literally spent just pennies for their gift.  For that reason alone my favorite part of the holiday season is giving gifts to the special people in my life and seeing their reaction when they open their present.

I know of tons of deal and coupon sites, you know that because I share my favorite deals here, so I thought that I would share a new that I just recently became aware of – CouponsCodes4u.com.

The ways to save are countless when you visit CouponCodes4u.com.  You can search based on product, category, or even your favorite stores like Walmart, Sears, Target and Cabelas just to name a few.  If that isn’t enough there are printable coupons, grocery coupons, exclusive deals and a list of the top 50 and what is hot today.

 

 

But wait… there’s more!  You can shop for coupons and codes for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas!  I love the Christmas Gifts Idea section because you can shop by clicking on Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Kids and Toys, Gifts and Gadgets and even for Christmas Party Ideas.  I am loving all the search option that this site has to offer. I think that the gift ideas section is so awesome and I will definitely be checking it out to see what I can find for my family as I am putting together my Christmas list over the next couple of weeks.

So what are you waiting for?  Go to CouponCodes4u.com and see what great deals and coupons that you can find to start saving this holiday season.  I would love it if you come back here and let me know what you think of the site and if there is a great deal that I should check out too!

Happy shopping :D

 

Filed Under: Black Friday, Chic Family Finds, Chic Mom Finds, coupon, coupon code, Coupon codes, discounts and coupons, Fab Discounts, gifts for everyone, shopping Tagged With:

Smiles that Rock Contest and a @Crest 3D Collection #Giveaway!

November 11, 2011 By 76 Comments

I’ll let you in on a little secret… I secretly wish that I had the talent to be the next big thing.  I know it’s insane for an overweight stay at home mom in her early thirties to even think that this dream is possible but you never know.  Consider this post the closest thing that I will ever get to putting this on my vision board.  In truth, I love to sing but my brother always told me that I sounded like a dying cow so the only public appearance my singing voice ever made was at a concert solo in the fifth grade.  After that night my career was over and I stuck to singing in the shower. 

I have been an American Idol fan since its inception but I never had the balls to audition.  I still don’t – but now that I am a huge X Factor fan too all hope is not lost because they have that illustrious over 30 category that I fall into.  I can’t help but think how great it would be if one day my dream became a reality.

I guess for now I will have to settle for just having a gorgeous Rock Star Smile, courtesy of good hygiene and Crest 3D White products that I love.  I started using Crest 3D White Toothpaste over the summer and in September I tried out the 2 Hour Whitening Strips kit.  Both products are amazing separately but together they helped give me that extra boost for a rock star white smile.  Read my review of the whitening strips or just take a quick look at my before and after smile on the right.

“Smiles That Rock” Contest Presented by Crest 3D White and Billboard

Do you have smile that rocks too?  Would you want to flaunt your amazing smile on a Billboard magazine cover?  Well put your money where your mouth is – literally.  If you have the best Rock Star smile you could win a trip for two to the 2011 Women in Music Event, where you can walk the red carpet and flash pearly whites at a real rock star event!  I know that I’m entering cause for me this would almost be as good as having the chance to be on the X Factor – almost.

Entry is super easy too.  All you have to do is upload your picture to the widget and come up with a catchy headline to tag it with.  That’s it!  Check out the one I created!  It ROCKS, I know :D

It takes certain flair of confidence to brighten up a magazine cover like a true music star. Show us your most sparkling and stand-out smile by making a Billboard cover of your own, and you could win a real red carpet experience at Billboard’s Women In Music event on December 2nd in New York City — featuring the 2011 Billboard Woman of the Year honoree Taylor Swift — courtesy of Crest 3D White, the #1 most awarded whitening brand recognized by top beauty magazine editors, and Billboard, the #1 music brand.

In addition to the VIP treatment at Women In Music — which includes the opportunity to walk the red carpet with photo opps to show off your Billboard cover and pearly whites — the grand prize also includes the following:

  • Roundtrip airfare for two to New York City
  • Hotel accommodations
  • Spending money
  • Your Billboard cover as the profile image on Crest 3D White’s Facebook page on the day of the Women in Music event, and
  • A year’s supply of the Crest 3D White collection of products, to allow you to flash a brilliant smile every day to make heads turn

Additionally, one runner up will win a year’s worth of the entire award-winning Crest 3D White collection of products.

 

Win the Crest 3D Collection!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After your done uploading your entry for “Smiles that Rock” come back here and enter to win the Crest 3D Collection – which when used together, can help you achieve a noticeably brighter smile in as little as just one day.  One lucky Pretty Pink Momma reader will win the Crest 3D Collection to try for themselves!

Entry is super easy – even easier than the “Smiles that Rock” entry if you can believe it!  Just enter via the Rafflecopter widget below and be sure to complete the mandatory entry: Name a rock star that in your opinion has a smile that rocks.

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Chic Mom Finds, contests, Giveaways, Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Wow! Is it All Ready Time to Start Thinking About Sending Out Holiday Greeting Cards?

November 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

The holiday season is quickly approaching and by now most of us have started thinking about sending out holiday cards.  To be honest, I haven’t sent out Christmas cards in about five years, but I really want to do it this year. I almost got around to it last year but with everything going on with my husband’s promotion it was just one stress I didn’t need.  Now that things have settled down a bit  I want to get back in the game.  I am even okay with the fact that I don’t have to be all Martha Stewart like and hand address each one.  It’s okay to print out the labels and stick them on, nobody cares, least of all my friends and family.

To get some ideas for the type of Christmas card I want to out this year I have been checking out what Shutterfly has to offer.  They have hundreds upon hundreds of design images so I was certain that more than one would catch my eye.  It took me forever to look around and finally settle on just a few favorites.  All of the holiday cards are beautiful and it took me some time to narrow it down to just three that really caught my eye the most.

The first section I looked at were the folded greeting cards.  I like the idea of something personalized but with a traditional folded card look to it.  I picked this Ho Ho Ho card because I thought that it would be the perfect card to show off all three of my boys front and center.

I saw one like it a few years ago that I almost got but I ran out time and never ordered.  Another bonus with the folded card option is that  I can write my individual greetings for close family and friends on the inside of the card and give it a more personal touch.

The next option that I looked into was the flat stationary greeting card.  These I liked because they are made from thick card stock and still have a traditional look and feel to them without being a folded card.  Plus being that they are stationary you can write a personalized message on the back if you want but if you don’t no one will think you skipped writing a message either, like they might with a folded card.

I really liked this card on the right because it also had three separate picture spots, one for each of the boys. It’s bright and colorful too.  I also really like that they suggest going with black and white photos to make the bright colors stand out.

The last style of cards I looked in to were the flat photo cards.  This is not only the cheapest option to go with, some cards are only .32 cents each, but they require the least amount of work.  Let’s face it, when you send a photo card nobody expects you to write hand write a greeting.  These two reasons are probably why Christmas photo cards are one of the most popular choices.

I found one photo card that I though was really cute, and again, it has the three spots for each of my boys.  I love the ornaments design!  It is really cute and I can totally see my boys faces filling out this card.  I have to admit, I love the ease of the photo card.  I would like to go a traditional folded card route but I would feel compelled to write personal messages and I don’t think that I have the time for that this year.  Seriously, it’s been so long since anyone has received a holiday card from me that any card I choose will surprise them – signed or not!

Shuttefly has so many options to choose from I may go back and look some more!  I love that they are affordable, stylish, modern and fun.  I’m sure that if you are looking for a great holiday card you will find one to suit your family’s style at Shutterfly this season.

 

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Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, Christmas, Christmas cards, greeting cards, Holiday cards, Shutterfly Tagged With: ,

Eggland’s Best Goes “Pink” to Help Fight Breast Cancer – Support Eggland’s Until November 15th!

November 2, 2011 By 71 Comments

 

As I mentioned last week there are several products that you can purchase throughout the month of October that support Breast Cancer Awareness and Research.  But few that you can continue to purchase through mid November to support the cause.  Even fewer are the products that you actually need or use regularly.  Eggs are one of those items that most everybody uses on a weekly basis and are affordable.  Eggland’s Best, America’s #1 Egg, is going “pink” to help support Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Through November 15th you can support Susan G. Komen for the Cure by purchasing Eggland’s Best Pink Dozen Eggs which feature the signature “EB” stamp with the Susan G. Komen Running Ribbon.  Eggland’s will also be donating $50,000 to support Susan G. Komen in their pledge to end breast cancer forever.

 

Eggland’s Best eggs are a great way to source all-natural nutrients that are important in maintaining overall health and wellness.  Studies have snow that maintaining a healthy lifestyle may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, as well as reducing your risk of developing other diseases. To lead a healthy lifestyle and possibly reduce the risk of breast cancer and other diseases, it is recommended to take the following steps:

  • Add physical activity and exercise into your daily routine
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Eat a balanced diet of healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, dairy and whole grains
  • Get regular screening tests for breast cancer and other diseases

The 2011 Komen campaign message is “Less Talk. More Action.” with the goal of encouraging women to take their health into their own hands and get screened.

Are you ready to take action and help spread the word about the Eggland’s Best and Komen partnership and our special Pink Dozen eggs?  Here’s what you can do to help take action:

What’s Your Favorite Egg Recipe?

I love EB Eggs and one of my favorite new items that they have come out with are the bags of ready cooked hard boiled eggs.  They are SO convenient!  When I feel like an egg salad sandwich or some homemade guacamole it’s so nice to have eggs at the ready.  I hate having to wait for them to be boiled when I wish that they were ready as soon as the thought pops into my head.  I thought that I would share a couple of my favorite egg recipes – Greek Egg Salad Sandwich and El Salvadoran Guacamole.

I want to share the El Salvadoran Guacamole first because its really delicious and super easy to make.  I learned this from my mother-in-law and it is a staple at my husband’s family functions.  I know that eggs and avocados may not sound that appealing but trust me, it’s delish!

El Salvadoran Guacamole

Ingredients

  • 1 hard boiled egg
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • salt – about 1/2 tsp or to taste
  • 1/4 c. diced onions (optional)

Use an egg slicer to to dice the egg or alternatively you can place it in a mug and chop it with a sharp knife.  Place your chopped egg in a bowl.  Then add one diced avocado to the eggs.  Add the salt, and the onions, if you like onions like I do.  Grab a spoon and mix it all together.  Taste it with a tortilla chip and if you think it needs a little more salt add that now.  Go little by little with the salt because once you add too much you can’t take it away.  This guacamole is delicious as a dip or as a condiment.  Enjoy!

Greek Style Egg Salad Sandwich

Ingredients

  • 2 hard boiled eggs
  • 1/8 c. chopped celery
  • 1 Tbsp of Greek Tatziki Dip
  • 1/8 tsp curry
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • dash of paprika
  • 1/8 c. of diced green onions (optional)
  • 1 sandwich roll
  • mixed greens
  • 1/4 of one large cucumber

Dice the hard boiled eggs, my preferred method is the mug trick I mentioned above, and put the crumbled eggs in a small mixing bowl.  Add the Tatziki dip, curry, salt, pepper, paprika and celery to the eggs.  Also add the green onions if you like them, as I do.  Mix everything together until its all combined.  Spread the mixture on the sandwich roll, place cucumber slices on top.  Then add the mixed green or any type of lettuce that you prefer.  Top with the other half of the sandwich roll and voila!  Perfectly yummy Greek Style Egg Salad Sandwich!

 

Win an Eggland’s Best Prize Pack

One Pretty Pink Momma reader will win an Eggland’s Best prize pack that includes an eco bag, plush egg, spatula and an EB coupon!

Simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget below.  For the mandatory entry please comment on this post telling me how you like your eggs.

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Filed Under: Breast Cancer Awareness, Chic Family Finds, Giveaways, healthy recipes, recipes, Reviews, women's health awareness, women's health issues Tagged With: , , ,

Happy #Halloween! Check Out This #Recipe for Cute Ghoulish Brownies Courtesy of #Pringles

October 31, 2011 By 2 Comments

Pringles Ghoulish Brownies

INGREDIENTS:

  • 6 ounces baking chocolate, unsweetened
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter or margarine
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1-6.41 ounce can of Pringles Original or 1-5.71 ounce can of Reduced Fat Pringles Original
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • Orange and black frosting (optional)
  • Edible decorations, such as sprinkles and candy corn (optional)

 

DIRECTIONS:

1.       Preheat oven to 350 F

2.       Line 13×9-inch baking pan with foil, and spray foil with cooking spray.

3.       In a glass bowl, microwave chocolate and butter on high for 2 minutes.  Stir until chocolate melts.

4.       In a stainless steel bowl, mix sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well mixed.

5.       Pour in butter chocolate mixture and mix well.

6.       Empty Pringles and flour into a food processor, and puree until very fine.

7.       Empty flour mixture into chocolate mixture and mix well; add nuts to distribute.

8.       Bake for 30 minutes, and cool.

 

OPTIONAL DECORATION DIRECTIONS:

1.       Before pouring Pringles into food processer, reserve 3-5 crisps and set aside.

2.       While brownies cool, gently break Pringles crisps in half and decorate with frosting gel.

3.       Top brownies and frosting and place crisp “gravestones” in brownies along with other edible decorations to create a fun and playful graveyard scene.

 

Pringles Review Plus Some Seasonal Snacking Tips

 

I was recently sent some Pringles for review and all though I have had them before its been a few years since I last snacked on them.  It was nice to eat them again and remember why I liked them so much.  The fact that they stay fresh in a can is a huge plus too that I really appreciate.  Lately my boys have been leaving the chip bags open and then forgetting to clip it back up when they are done.  I hate stale chips not to mention the fact that it’s a huge waste of money.

I forgot just how addicting Pringles can be!  I downed a can pretty quickly, but I couldn’t help myself, they were delicious!  My boys really liked Pringles too.  Which is great because I am always looking for new snack ideas for their lunches.  Pringles has these cute little snack packs that are the perfect size for a lunch time snack.  The snack packs are also great in the car when we go on our weekend family road trips.  I’m always looking for travel sized snacks that will keep the boys’ hunger at bay on those long drives.

If you haven’t had Pringles in awhile I would really recommend getting some.  You can make those cute Ghoulish Brownies shown above too!  I know that my boys would think that those brownies are cool all year round!

 

 

Pringles Tips for Seasonal Snacking Occasions Include:

  • Curb snack cravings while apple or pumpkin picking by keeping Pringles Stix in the car or purse for the ride home
  • Take Pringles Super Stack cans to your next tailgating party for a delicious snack worth cheering for!
  • Have fun while waiting in long haunted house lines with a can of Pringles Grab & Go
  • Pringles Snack Stacks are a great alternative to sugary treats for trick-or-treaters.

In addition to snacking, Pringles makes a great recipe ingredient. Treat your little ghosts and goblins to Pringles Ghoulish Brownies for a sweet and savory desert so delicious it will haunt them!

 

 

*I was sent Pringles cans and snack packs to facilitate this review.  The seasonal snacking tips and Ghoulish Brownie recipe was provided by Pringles.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Chic Family Finds, recipes, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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