Enter to Win $250,000

Enter the Cosmo Financial Freedom Sweepstakes and you could win $250,000 in cash! Found out b/c #imabzzagent!

http://u.bzz.com/wuwny

JOY

The feeling of delight, happiness and pleasure. It’s one of the most cherished emotions you can experience in life. What brings you joy?

For me it's my faith. I have been a Christian since I was a little kid, but for so many people religious is about the actions and the duties and obligations, but it's about so much more.

It's about a relationship with the one who gave up everything for me. It's about the one who was perfect and sinless, taking on the guilt of the world, just so that we could live freely. Because of His sacrifice, I can be forgiven. I am covered by grace, and it's an amazing feeling.

I know everyone reading this may not agree or even believe in a God, but for me . . . I KNOW there is a God.

I once heard a philosophy teacher talk about how it's rational to believe in God. He gave us four scenarios.
1) Scenario 1 - God's real, and you do believe - You go to heaven and avoid hell
2) Scenario 2 - God's not real, and you do believe - You live a good life
3) Scenario 3 - God's real and you DONT believe, you go to hell
4) Scenario 4 - God's Not Real and you DONT believe - nothing happens

In Scenario 1, 2 and 3 it benefits you to believe in God . . . so do you really want to take the chance that he isn't real? It's food for thought, but my Faith is what brings me joy!

About Kleenex®:
The world's first and America's best-selling facial tissue, the Kleenex® Brand is recognized by families in more than 150 countries. Invented in 1924, Kleenex® Brand facial tissues were initially marketed as a sanitary way to remove cold cream and makeup. Once advertising was shifted to emphasize the product's use as a disposable handkerchief, however, sales soared. Always the innovative leader, Kleenex® Brand facial tissue has met the unmet needs of consumers for more than 80 years with products that provide the essential and uplifting touch that makes life better.

Send a friend a free pack of Kleenex: http://www.kleenex.com/softnessworthsharing
More info: http://www.kleenex.com/
Become a fan of Kleenex® on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kleenex

Pillsbury Pie Crust

What better way to celebrate than taking your family to visit a local apple orchard to pick fruit. Then, take those delicious apples home and bake the quintessential favorite – Apple Pie! It’s so easy when you start with Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pie Crusts, which deliver the look and taste of homemade without the time and stress of making a crust from scratch.

To celebrate all that apple harvest brings, Pillsbury is encouraging families to join in the fun in a number of ways this fall.

VISITING AN APPLE ORCHARD

To pick the best apples for your pie, gather the family for a road trip to the local apple orchard to savor the flavors of fall. Not sure which orchard is closest to you? Log onto tasteofhome.com/appleorchards to find a list of orchards that are planning Love the Pie! baking demonstration events across the country. While there, you can learn pie baking tips and ideas from State Fair Pie Baking Champions, and pick up recipes and participate in other orchard activities.

The best part of baking an apple pie is the memories you make with your family. Don’t forget to capture photos and videos of your entire adventure from your apple orchard visit to baking the pie at home. We’d love for you to then share your photos and videos with your readers by posting them to your blog and to Pillsbury’s "Love the Pie" Facebook page too! Join Pillsbury on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lovethepie and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/love_the_pie .

In addition, you and your readers can visit Pillsbury.com/pie to download a printable coupon for $0.50 off a package of Pillsbury Pie Crusts today!

BAKING APPLE PIES TOGETHER

After your orchard visit, get the family involved in making pies and other treats together. Pillsbury Pie Crusts are an easy base for your favorite warm apple treats. Simply unroll into a pie plate, fill with your favorite variety of sliced apples and filling, and bake! From orchard to oven, Pillsbury Pie Crusts make apple pie baking simple with delicious results.

ENTER APPLE-A-DAY GIVEAWAY

Finally, if you want to add to your own apple pie baking knowledge and materials, check out the fun Apple-A-Day Giveaway sponsored by Pillsbury and Taste of Home at http://www.tasteofhome.com/Apple-a-Day-Giveaway from September 15 to October 15, you can enter for a chance to win a grand prize of $1,000, as well as pass along the fun to other friends. Each time you enter, you also have a chance at winning daily prizes. If you want to share this giveaway on your blog, simply provide the link.

Here are my attempts at pie:

Pillsbury provided me with the products & information through MyBlogSpark

My little sister is getting married

My little sister is getting married next month. I can't believe she is old enough to be getting married. It seems like it was just yesterday we were climbing trees, and making mud pies in the creek in our backyard, or pushing each other on the swing. I have so many fond memories of time spent with my little sister, and I know that marriage means that things will change, but she met a wonderful Christian man, who treats her like a princess, and she couldn't have picked a better guy!

Isn't her ring gorgeous? He chose well.

On November 20, 2010 my little sister will be a married woman.

It's hard growing up, but some changes are good ones. :)

Your Honey-Do List

5 things on your 'Honey-do' list that never get done

1. Finishing the paint job in the basement
2. Installing the back up sump pump
3. Cleaning the hardwood floors
4. Professionally tuning our antique piano
5. Installing the digital thermostat

Find a Local Contractor


Get a ContractorI wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and ServiceLive blogging program to be eligible to receive $100 in ServiceLive Bucks. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Grant Program

I think this is such a great program:

For those of you who haven't heard about this fantastic initiative, I am so excited to announce Huggies® MomInspired™ Grant Program. This program allows inventive moms to submit original, innovative and viable new business and product ideas designed to help make life easier for parents so that they can better enjoy everyday moments with their little ones. Until June 11th, you can visit http://www.huggiesmominspired.com/ to apply.

This program is open to moms who have an idea or already have a product/business and need additional funding to take it to the next level. Please note that the business or idea does not have to be one that fits within the Kimberly-Clark portfolio of products.This is all about helping moms nurture their business ideas and help them grow.

I know there are moms out there who have companies that need financial help.

By posting this information, I am entered into a contest to win a $250 American Express gift card from MomSelect. I did not receive any compensation for this post and thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Flowers?

I have always loved getting flowers, for birthdays, anniversaries or for no reason at all, but I know many women find them to be a waste of money, so I wanted to put this out there . . . where do you stand? Do you want to receive flowers, or would you rather be given the money to buy yourself something? I'm still a traditionalist . . . give me roses any day!

Five Fun Family Vacation Activities Your Kids Will Love

Five Fun Family Vacation Activities Your Kids Will Love

1. Flying a Kite on the Beach

2. Camping in the backyard

3. Please Touch Museums - kids love these!!!

4. Tour the Crayola Factory and get some goodies

5. Waterparks or Sesame Place

About Williamsburg Tourism

The Williamsburg area – Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown, VA – is one of America’s favorite family destinations, with adventure around every corner. Experience more than 400 years of American history and culture brought vividly to life at hands-on historical sites and world-class museums; share thrills and entertainment at exhilarating theme parks; discover unique finds and bargains, and enjoy outdoor activities in scenic parks, byways, nature trails and waterways. Whether it’s traveling backing to the 17th and 18th centuries, or forward into the 21st, the Williamsburg area offers vacation fun for all ages. http://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/

...you can view the discussion page here too :)

Fun Family Vacation Activities

Visit Williamsburg

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Williamsburg Tourism and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Ragu Sauces - Yum!

To help make sure your kids get the veggies they need (and the meals they love) Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce now has 2 servings of veggies in every half cup! Available soon in major retailers nationwide, the healthy, great tasting Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional pasta sauce that is already a kitchen staple has a new, naturally thicker recipe.

Healthy, delicious and now with a naturally thicker taste the whole family will love, Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce is a perfect component to pulling together quick and tasty meals during this busy time. And Ragú® wants you to be among the first to try out their great new recipe! To be one of the first to taste Ragú® with 2 servings of veggies in every half-cup visit them on facebook.com/ragusauce for more details.

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Ragú® prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place

10 tips

I love to eat healthy foods that don't taste healthy, so this is a very fun challenge for me, and I am very excited to share my tips with you:

1. Make Pumpkin Zuccini Bread (or muffins). The kids won't know they're eating veggies. It tastes like a delicious bread or muffin, and not like zuccini or pumpkin!

3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup shredded zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS
1. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs and sugar. Add pumpkin, butter and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir in zucchini and nuts. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until breads test done. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack.

2. Instead of coffee and tea full of sugar, try this drink. It's apple juice (you can try sugar free or no sugar added), cinnamon syrup and a little whipped cream on top (low fat). You heat up the apple juice, add the cinnamon syrup and top with whipped cream. It's a great alternative to coffee full of sugar and heavy cream.

3. Use applesauce instead of oil in recipes like these applesauce muffins:
1 cup sugar
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour,
divided
1/4 cup quick cooking oats
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS:
2 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups unsweetened
applesauce
1 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sugar
DIRECTIONS:
1.
In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a 1-pint glass jar, layer 3/4 cup flour, oats, sugar mixture and remaining flour. Cover and store in a cool dry place for up to 6 months.
2.
To prepare muffins: In a bowl, combine the egg, applesauce, butter and vanilla. Stir in muffin mix just until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups three-fourths full. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes our clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.

4. Try using veggies to make dessert, like these sweet potato orange cup recipe that I'm dying to try:

Ingredients:
3 large sweet potatoes (2 to 2-1/2 pounds), peeled and cubed
1 can (6 ounces) orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup half-and-half cream
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup chopped pecans
4 large oranges, halved
32 additional miniature marshmallows
Directions:
Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 25-30 minutes or just until tender. Drain. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sweet potatoes, concentrate, sugar, cream and butter on low speed until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup marshmallows and pecans; set aside. Remove pulp from oranges, leaving a shell. (Discard pulp or save for another use.) Spoon sweet potato mixture into shells. Place four marshmallows on top of each. Place in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 8 servings.

5. Instead of indulging in soda and sugary drinks make your own out of fresh fruits and ice. Make your kitchen a smoothie bar where your kids will want to come and get a healthy drink, and so will their friends.

6. If you have picky eaters at home, sometimes throwing everything together is a way to get them to eat foods they wouldn't normally eat - like this breakfast casserole:

Ingredients:
o 1 pkg.Regular Flavor Jimmy Dean Pork Sausage
o 10 eggs, lightly beaten
o 3 cups milk
o 2 teaspoons dry mustard
o 1 teaspoon salt
o 6 cups cubed bread
o 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
o 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
o 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
o 1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped (optional)
o 1/2 cup thin-sliced green onions (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 F. In large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink. In large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, mustard and salt; stir well. Distribute half the bread evenly in a buttered 9" x 13" x 2" baking dish. Sprinkle with half the pepper, half the cheese, half the sausage and half of each optional ingredient. Repeat layering using remaining bread, pepper, cheese, sausage and optional ingredients. Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole. Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until eggs are set. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly.

7. Replace snacks like gummy bears, peach rings, sour patch kids etc with real fruit. I think fruit is just as satisfying (if not more) than processed sweets like these. Your kids may actually prefer a peach or raspberries to gummies. It doesn't hurt to try.

8. Add Oats and nuts to cookie recipes. I try to keep my sweets low in sugar and high in fiber when I can, so this is a great way to make cookies and sweets healthier, like these chocolate oatmeal walnut cookies pictured below:

9. Instead of cooking with the entire egg, try egg white only recipes. The yolk of an egg is where most of the cholesterol is, so if you are trying to limit cholesterol intake try egg white recipes, and egg white noodles like no-yolk.

10. Replace all pasta with wheat pasta. It takes a few extra minutes to cook since it's so dense, but the health benefits are worth it. It has more fiber than white pasta, which is much needed to keep your body healthy.

I hope you enjoyed my ideas, recipes and especially my photos. Happy Healthy Eating! :)

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and WeightWatchers SmartOnes blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

ten tips for a cleaner, greener home (and earth)

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products are made from plant-derived ingredients and essential oils instead of harsh chemicals, so you can clean like the dickens yet your home still smells like a garden. I think these sound like great products and would love to try them in my own home, but until I have that opportunity, we find other ways to have a clean green home.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day

Clean, Green Home

First on our list is saving paper. Our printer normally prints on only one side, which for some documents is fine, but for others, it's a waste of paper. So we decided to configure our office printer so it prints on both sides of the page, to save paper and limit waste!

Second did you know that electronics draw electricity when plugged in, even when they aren't on? This is why it's a great idea to unplug items at night like the TV and DVD player, or the computer and printer. It may not be a noticable difference on your bill, but it's helping to limit wasting energy

Third you can re-use bags. We get a ton of plastic bags when we go grocery shopping, so we've decided to save them and re-use them as lunch bags. Many stores are now rewarding shoppers for re-using bags, or for bringing their own bags, such as CVS and other stores!

Fourth is try not to waste water. When we were young my mom taught us to turn the water off while we brushed. I've heard this saves nearly 5 gallons of water each day. When you think of all the countries without running water, it should make you appreciate it more, and not waste it.

Fifth suggestion is to Run a full dishwasher whenever possible. The dishwasher probably uses the same amount of water regardless of how full your machine is, so doesn't it make sense to clean the most dishes possible with one load. This limits the amount of water (and energy) wasted.

Sixth idea is Install a programmable thermostat. My husband and I bought one about a year ago, and sadly have not installed it yet, but my husband learned in a home projects course that this can save a lot of money. We had more selfish reasons for buying it like wanting a warm house to come home to in the evening, and keeping the kittens cool in the summer months. :)

Seventh tip is use lemon juice next time you need a good clean. I've heard that the acid in lemon juice dissolves buildup and dirt on wood, and tarnish on silver. I think I'll give this a try next time i need to polish my silver, if I have any.

Eighth ide is try to make your own cleaning products from ingredients you probably already own. For furnituer polish mix 1 cup lemon juice with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp water; lightly apply to furniture using a soft cloth. Let sit for a couple of minutes, then buff. Voila - natural, and easy and leaves a great scent and polish behind!

Ninth is a way to cut down on air pollution - two ways actually. Teach your kids early on that taking fewer cars is better for the environment. On top of this, teach your kids where oxygen comes from (plants) so that they can learn that trees are good for the environment, and that we need to protect them.

Finally, my tenth tip is buy organic - fruits, veggies, meats etc. In most areas you can find grocery stores that have organic sections, or find a local farmer or butcher that offers organic products. I've had organic fruits and meats and the quality is far superior to others. Not only does it taste better, but you are supporting farmers who don't use pesticides and harmful chemicals, which is a wonderful thing.

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Mrs. Meyer’s blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Five things to keep your kids teeth health

Share five simple things you can do for your child to help keep their smiles healthy and bright:
1. Brush 2x/day
2. Chew Trident
3. Gargle
4. Floss
5. Regular dentist visits

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here




Learn More on Facebook

Trident Gum

Kids Should Learn To...

FIVE Lessons Every Kid Should Learn:

1. To make their bed 2. To eat their fruits and veggies 3. To share 4. To help the less fortunate 5. To Recycle

Nanny McPhee Returns (the movie) and TwitterMoms are joining forces to present you with a fun blogging program! Share Five Lessons Every Kid Should Learn, and the first 50 qualified participants will get a $50 Fandango gift card! Do you teach your kids not to talk to strangers? Do they know when to say please and thank you and to respect their elders? Did you teach your kids to look both ways before crossing the street? We can’t wait to read all of your important lessons for kids!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Nanny McPhee Returns blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here


Nanny McPhee Returns Trailer



Nanny McPhee Returns on Facebook

Staples Back to School Tips

My tips:

1. CVS extra care bucks
2. Rite Aid rebates
3. Cut coupons
4. Rebates - contact manufacturer for coupons
5. Borrow things
6. BJ's
7. Sam's club
8. Farmer's Markets
9. Etsy (great deals)
10. Buy post season for discounts

Back-to-School Savings




Staples Back-to-School About Staples:
Staples, the world's largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products and services. Our broad selection of office supplies, electronics, technology and office furniture as well as business services, including computer repair and copying and printing, helps our customers run their offices efficiently. With 2009 sales of $24 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia serving businesses of all sizes and consumers. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and today ranks second worldwide in e-commerce sales. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com/media. I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Back To School Shopping Already

The summer is winding down.

Time to think about the dreaded . . . Back to School Shopping.

This is when I start looking at the flyers/ads to find great deals and coupons.

10 Tips

Ten Tips for Ensuring a Healthy, Safe and Successful School Year:

1. Know your allergies and avoid foods with those items in them
2. Eat whole grain breads to keep your body healthy
3. Get plenty of rest each night (8 hours +)
4. Get regular exercise (gym class or a sport)
5. Send the kids to school with a water bottle to stay hydrated
6. Teach your children their home phone number and address in case they ever need it
7. Helo the kids with their homework, and answer their questions
8. Get involved with school activities (PTA, field trips etc)
9. Talk to your kids each day, find out whats going on in their lives - prevents depression and other problems
10. Show your kids you love them - hugs, pats on the back, verbal affirmation


Safe, Healthy, Eco-friendly Eyewear







Airwear Back-to-school Eyewear

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about.

Things in Your Life that Are Better Than Ever

Better than Ever . . . I am now a "grown up." Growing up I thought all my problems would be solved when I was a grown up, and while they aren't, I now have the skills to deal with challenges that come my way. Life is better because I have a good head on my shoulders, a great husband, and the ability to think things through. I am able to look ahead to see the consequences for my actions or words, which prevents many arguments and much hurt!

TwitterMoms and Dove® gofresh™ are teaming up to bring you a fun new blogging program! If you haven't heard, Dove® gofresh™ just got a boost of NutriumMoisture™. The folks at Dove® feel this has taken Dove® gofresh™ from good to great. That made us wonder, what in your life has gone from good to great... what in your life is better than ever? We want to celebrate how your life has evolved. Look at where you are now, compared to your life in the past. Taking time to stop, reflect and be thankful is always so refreshing!

Dove® gofresh™ is also sponsoring a Facebook photo contest that you can share with your readers. Encourage your blog readers and followers to share their photos about what's "better than ever" on the Facebook contest page for a chance to win a spa weekend getaway in Sedona, AZ, and thousands of dollars worth of great prize packages from Dove® gofresh™!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Dove® gofresh™ blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (include this link to the discussion page: http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/celebrate-the-things-in-your)


Check out Dove^® gofresh™ with NutriumMoisture™




Dove^® Better Than Ever Facebook Contest

What Are Glue Dots?

What Are Glue Dots®?

Glue Dots Adhesives are a safer, easier, mess-free alternative to typical tapes and glue guns. Glue Dots provide the strength you need in an adhesive without the mess and dry time required of liquid glues. Glue Dots bond instantly to a wide variety of surfaces including: Paper/photos, Metal, Wood, Plastic, Textiles/Fibers, Plastic, Foam, and more! Find Glue Dots at a retailer near you or online today!

Your kids are sure to love these Glue Dot's products. It will make craft making and creativity a bit easier on mom and dad. Less clean up than glue, and easier to use, less "dry time". Check them out for yourself!

**Note: Glue Dots are Acid Free and Non-Toxic.
Learn more about Glue Dots Products and Uses Here

Follow on FB: http://www.facebook.com/GlueDotsFans

Join Glue Dots on Facebook and Twitter @gluedots!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Glue Dots blogging contest to be eligible to receive a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Easy Summer Project Ideas





Fun Summer Project Activities

Solo Photo Contest

Our friends at Solo are back this summer with their second annual Solo Online Photo Contest! And like last year, they are unveiling new must-have product just in time for summer barbecues. Solo Squared™ plates and bowls are the perfect complement to their popular Squared cup. These durable, single-use cups, plates and bowls cut down on clean-up time, which means more time for summer fun!













Speaking of fun, how does winning great prizes sound? The Solo Cup Company has launched their second annual online photo contest with a grand prize of $5,000 for the best photo featuring Solo products. You'll be able to enter your favorite photos at http://www.solocups4ever.com/ until August 6th. In addition to the grand prize, two $1,000 runner-up prizes will be awarded at the end of the contest. By entering, you'll also have the chance to win daily and weekly prizes of gift certificates and Solo products- a great way to extend the fun of summer well into the fall!

5 Must-Have's for a wknd trip

1. short denim skirt

2. Leggings
3. Sassy pumps/heals
4. cardigan sweater
5. flower pin to spice up any outfit!

Gap Twitter DiscountExclusive Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store Savings

More About Banana Republic Factory Store
Banana Republic Factory Store offers Banana Republic Style at brilliant prices.
Gap Outlet Offerings
Gap Outlet is offering a doorbuster sale with up to 40% off all adult items and 30% off all kids items from May 25-31, 2010! THEN, Gap Outlet extends the sale with up to 50% off select styles! Also, Gap Outlet is offering an exclusive coupon code to the TwitterMoms community for an additional 15% discount on all purchases, with a minimum spend of $75. This exclusive additional discount is available to all TwitterMoms friends and family from May 25 - June 7, 2010!
Banana Republic Factory Store Offerings
Banana Republic Factory Store is offering 40% off the ENTIRE STORE from Wednesday 5/26/10 – Monday 5/31/10 ONLY! In addition, Banana Republic Factory Store is offering an exclusive coupon code to the TwitterMoms community for an additional 15% discount on all purchases, with a minimum spend of $75. This exclusive additional discount is available to all TwitterMoms friends and family from May 25 through June 7, 2010, so hurry to your closest location today.
Get your coupons today at http://gap.twittermoms.com I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Gap Outlet blogging program to be eligible to win a $20 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

creative and affordable vacation

Here are 10 tips for a creative and affordable vacation:

1. Take vacations with family to lessen the cost

2. Go off-season for cheaper rates and great deals
3. Call the hotel and negotiate a better price (Life is negotiable!)
4. Go Camping

5. Rent an RV and go on a road trip
6. Visit family/friends

7. Stay in Hostels (if you are a couple, not best for kids)

8. Look for deals on craigslist, and perhaps do a room swap/home swap

9. Go in with friends to rent a vacation home
10. Visit grandma/grandpa for free room and meals!!!

Affordable Vacation Ideas

Toyota Sienna

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Toyota Sienna and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Mock Mashed Potatoes

Parmesan-Style Mock Mashed Potatoes




















Ingredients
1 head cauliflower, washed and broken into florets (about 4 cups florets)
⅓ cup Hidden Valley® Parmesan Dressing
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 tablespoon salt free butter
¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
Place cauliflower florets into a steamer and cook for about 20 minutes or until tender. Transfer the cauliflower to a food processor. Add Hidden Valley® Parmesan Dressing Light, milk and margarine to the cauliflower and blend until the mixture reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes. Add salt, mix and serve.



Mock Mashed Potatoes Recipes





More Great Recipes
This post is part of a blogging contest from the TwitterMoms community. There is a chance this post could be selected to win a $25 AmEx Gift Card, so wish me luck! For more details, you can view the contest page here

Win it!

find out how you can win 1 of 8 $300 Visa gift cards!


Claire of Life in Chicago

Giyen of Bacon is my Enemy

Quatro Mama of 4tunate

Sprint 3G/4G Mobile Broadband USB Device

TW of Retro Food

Renee of Cutie Booty Cakes

Christine of Welcome to my Brain.

Dwana of Healthier, Happier, You!!!

Chances to win!!!

For a chance to win the $300 grand prize, share tricks to help lighten your load and get laundry done faster. Place your comment in the section below to enter.

Suz from The Life Of Suz, mother of 2 year old quadruplets, put OxiClean to the ultimate challenge. Take a look at the results!

Jenny On The Spot loved how the Max Force Gel Stick easily conquered the chocolate pudding stain that had been sitting on her kid’s white shirt for four days!

Carrie from, Growing a Baby, is a laundry expert with two cute, but messy eaters. She loves the gel stick and says "it’s been great to be able to just dab some gel on the clothing item and leave it until later."

Life With the Boys said "I used the power pack in my whites, colors, and a load of towels. Everything came out looking pretty ship-shape."

"In our family, laundry is a HUGE deal. By this I mean, with 9 of us in the family we always have HUGE amounts of laundry to do. Add in the fact that 7 of us are boys… well I think you get the idea." -Said Mama Fasha

"When one lives in a home with seven kids (COUNT THEM: SEVEN) and a minor petting zoo, one has some serious laundry considerations." - Said Herding Squirrels. See how Oxiclean worked for her.

Xiaolin Mama said "This weekend after 3 basketball games, 1 soccer try-out, dance class and a sleep over, I was left with some stanky laundry!" See if OxiClean worked for her.

9 chances to win!

Swistle thought “It didn't taste like ‘diet pizza,’ it tasted like really good thin-crust pizza!” Find out which flavor was her favorite.Fluid Pudding knows “you will not be disappointed” when you purchase DiGiorno 200 Calories Portions…especially since they remind Angela of her favorite thin-crust pizzas!Busy Mom’s whole family LOVED them! This is a great “portion-controlled, convenient, and tasty pizza option” if you’re looking for “quick, healthy food!” “Good pizza without the guilt? Sign me up!” Tia from Clever Girl Goes Blog loved how the 200 Calorie Portions were “good sized and tasted like REAL pizza, not some ridiculous diet food.”Ali from Through the Looking Glass says the pizzas are perfect for lunch or a quick dinner. “It gives you that restaurant pizza taste without all of the calories!”If it's not cheat day yet and you are looking for a single serving of a really satisfying pizza, Cheat Day Café would highly recommend the DiGiorno 200 Calorie Pizzas found in the freezer section of your grocery store.“At 200 calories a pop, it is a great way to satisfy. No guilt, no bloat. Just yummy pizza!” Kari from Karianna Spectrum will be stocking the 200 Calorie Portions in her freezer!FiddleDeeDee’s daughter has dubbed the DiGiorno 200 Calorie Portions as “the best pizza ever!” See which flavor is DeeDee’s favorite!The “entire line up of DiGiorno 200 calorie pizzas has been added to the permanent shopping list” at Carmen’s house. Now Mom to the Screaming Masses can finally include pizza in her diet again!

win $100 Visa Card

Check out each of the nine reviews below to find out what each BlogHer thinks about this delicious juice. Plus, each BlogHer is giving you a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Carmen of Mom to the Screaming Masses and her family love the newest flavor of V8 V-Fusion, Cranberry Blackberry—she’s “been to three stores in the past two days to locate it!”

FireMom of Stop, Drop & Blog's son has been asking for it at lunch time almost every day! “I'm okay with that, as it is 100% juice with no added sugar.”

Samara of Simplicity in the Suburbs thinks the V8 V-Fusion cans would be “perfect for throwing in a lunchbox or grabbing on our way out the door to a soccer game”!

Amie of Life with the Boys and her whole family all really like the new flavor, Cranberry Blackberry—find out what recipe she’s making with it!

When Laura of Heavenly Homemakers began passing around glasses of the V8 V-Fusion Cranberry Blackberry juice, “it was like one big juice party in the kitchen. We even had juice mustaches! I LOVE that there are vegetables in this juice!”

Amy of Super Healthy Kids' husband even “suggested I start buying V8 for him to take to work rather than diet soda!” Along with V8 V-Fusion juices, find out what other tips she suggests for ensuring kids are receiving 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day!

The juice was a huge hit with Jenny of Picky Palate’s boys and “they had no clue how healthy the juice was for them!”

Kelsey of The Naptime Chef “was pleasantly surprised by the more natural fruit flavor.” She plans to “toss it in the diaper bag to have on hand for snack-time!”

Once Gen of Quadville’s foursome tested the Cranberry Blackberry flavor they were as "happy as mosquito's in summer time. They sucked those bad boys down!!! The second they were done they wanted a second glass.”

Win a $200 Visa Card

Read each of their posts listed below to learn how they plan on keeping their family connected, and find out how you can win 1 of 9 $200 Visa gift cards!

Leighann of Multi-Minding Mom plans to have family road trips to experience even more together! Her 2009 family travels allowed her children to see the ocean, eat their first whole lobster, and mark off countless states that they have now set foot on.

Pam of Beyond Just Mom makes a date with one child every week in order to stay in touch with all of her children—see what other fun tips she has that you can incorporate!

Ree of Hotfessional plans to stay in touch with her 18-year-old who’s away at college with emails, handwritten notes tucked into care packages, and smoke signals? Read what other ideas she has up her sleeve!

Amy of Doobleh-vay suggests that by families selecting a charity and continuously volunteering during 2010, they "will bond over giving back!”

Sandy of Eat Real feels that “if you make your home a welcoming place for your kids’ and their friends, a place with food and fellowship abound, you’ll be a fixture in their lives.” See how else she plans to proactively stay connected with her family.

Sierra of ChildWild suggests turning your Facebook, IM, Skype, and Twitter back on! “They don’t have to be distractions from staying connected; they can also be tools. I see my stepson update his Facebook status in the middle of the day and I pause, laugh and think of him."

Read how adding a family pet to the mix and color coordinated duck tape have Tales From The Trenches of Parenting ready to continue family bonding after traveling for the holidays!

Kate of Fabulous @ 50 has decided that 2010 will mark the “return of the dinner table” for her family! Find out how she plans to develop “mighty thumbs for texting” her kids too!

Tom's of Maine Giveaways!!!

BlogHer kids had a blast filming their brushing experience and Tom's wants to know how you make brushing fun for your kids too. For a 9th chance to win, share how you get your kids to brush and you could win a grand prize of $200! Enter in the comment section at the bottom of this page.

Watch the silly video of The Karianna Spectrum kids with the Tom’s toothpaste.

“Getting kids to be motivated to brush their teeth is hard enough... we need a little silly involved!” – Said Jenny On The Spot. Watch the funny video of her kids trying Silly Strawberry.

3 Po, one of the kids over at Bonggamom, had so much fun trying the toothpaste he did a little dance. Watch his dance on video.

The kids at Cheaper Than Therapy are picky about their toothpaste flavors. Watch the video and see how they liked Silly Strawberry.

See the ultra cute video of the youngest over at Izzy Mom.

Watch the youngest kids from Life with the Boys try the toothpaste in a creative way.

The youngest girls at Owlhaven liked the toothpaste because it wasn’t “too spicy”. Check out their video review.

Little Punky, over at Suburban Turmoil, gave Silly Strawberry a whirl. Watch and see what she thought.