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Pirates of the Caribbean On Stranger Tides

May 20, 2011 By 1 Comment

The fourth chapter in Pirates of the Caribbean lived up to my standards. I went into watching Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides expecting an action packed film full of outstanding music and lots of suspense. The movie begins in Spain where two fishermen find a man who claims to have found De Leon’s expedition. The Spanish knew this meant they had finally found the Fountain of Youth. So off they go looking for it.

Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Poster

Then we find the British about to put Gibbs to death, and who jumps in at the last minute with some hair brained half thought out plan to save him? Of course it’s Captain Jack Sparrow and might I mention he’s without a boat again, so why is he so keen on being called Captain? Of course that’s what I love about his character, he’s just so savvy, and just plain nuts. In his half thought out plan they are both captured by His Majesty’s Royal Navy and find that Hector Barbossa is going to lead the British on their expedition to find the Fountain of Youth before the Spanish do. Jack escapes just to be captured again by Angelica, a lost conquest of Jack’s and imprisoned on her father’s ship, Blackbeard.

Now all three ships are racing to the finish line to find the Fountain of Youth. The action in Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides kept my attention for almost the entire movie. I did find myself wishing it wasn’t in 3D after all. I mean, the scenery was beautiful, but things didn’t jump out at me as much I as I had expected it too. I really expected the swords to be coming at me quite a bit more than they did. Still, it was beautifully done. And the mermaids scared me. I can’t imagine taking any young kids to see this movie.

I found myself a little worried that the missionary and the mermaid’s romance was going to replace Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan but the storyline was wrapped up quite nicely, in fact, I found the ending, right down to the last line quite satisfying. As a very big fan of Jonny Depp and Pirates in general I recommend watching Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides.

 

Disclosure: I was invited to a prescreening of the movie.

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Giveaway Jingle Link Up Your Giveaways Here

May 19, 2011 By 14 Comments

You’ve got a giveaway, I want to know about it! Oh, and if you list your giveaway on Mom Start facebook page then I will tweet it out to all of my twitter followers. At 9070 followers and growing all the time! Cool? I hope so!

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I’ve got a few giveaways you might want to check out too!

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Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola $250 Shopping Spree Giveaway

May 19, 2011 By 5 Comments

It’s really not a secret that we, at Mom Start, love Nature’s Path Organic Foods. So we’re very happy and proud to announce their Hemp Plus Granola has been nominated for the Best Granola in the Vegetarian Times Foodie Awards 2011.

Now Nature’s Path needs your help to have their Hemp Plus Granola win the Vegetarian Times BEST GRANOLA category. I’ve voted for them and some of my other favorites, and you can too. For simply voting you’re eligible to win a $250 grocery shopping spree.

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If you haven’t tried Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola, go grab a box at your local retailer. Hemp is a green product (no pun intended) as it is sustainable resource. Hemp is very nutritious; the flax and hemp seeds enhance the Nature’s Path Hemp Plus Granola cereal nutrition with 600mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and 1800mg of Omega-6 fatty acids. Inside you’ll find –rolled oats*, evaporated cane juice*, soy oil*, brown rice flour*, flaxseeds*, hemp seeds* oat syrup solids* (oat syrup soilds*, topopherols), sea salt, molasses*. *organic

If you’re interested in the results then get a Vegetarian Time subscription or remember to pick up your copy of Vegetarian Times at newsstands when the Foodie Awards winners are announced in the October 2011 issue.

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About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

Filed Under: Announcement, green, organic, Summer Tagged With: , ,

Tasty Treat Thursday Bleach Blond Brownies Recipe

May 19, 2011 By 4 Comments

Bleach Blonde Brownies Recipe

I know I’m not the only one, remember bleaching your hair with lemon juice? My friends and I did this in high school during the summers. It actually made good highlights, or maybe those were natural … who knows!?!

We’ve been having some spring here in the Pacific Northwest and it has me itching for summertime or really just some more “no jacket” weather. I love it! And so I was inspired …

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BLONDE BROWNIES:

1 cup salted butter, softened
1/3 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup ground flaxseed
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350oF.

2. Cream together butter and sugars. Add vanilla and egg mix.

3. Add in wheat germ, flaxseed, flour, soda, and powder. Stir in all dry ingredients at the same time. (For even distribution and so you don’t have to dirty another bowl.)

4. Mix until moist and dough-like.

5. Press into a 9×13 ungreased dish. Cook in preheated oven for about 20 minutes (or until golden brown). Remove and stab with fork throughout brownie (we’re NOT looking for it to be cooked completely; we’re making holes for the “bleaching” mixture to seep into.)

“BLEACHING”:

4 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 medium to large lemons (as desired)
2 tablespoons powdered sugar (or as desired)

1. Beat eggs to blend whites and yolks. Cream in sugar. Add flour and stir. Temper in butter so as not to cook the eggs.

2. Roll lemons to loosen juice. Zest lemons into mixture.

3. Cut lemons in half and juice into the palm of your hand into a liquid measuring cup for easy seed removal. Pour (or strain) juice into mixture. Mix together.

4. Pour lemon custard over hole-y blonde brownies. Bake for an additional 30 minutes (or until golden brown)*. Cook completely, about 1 hour at room temperature. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

5. Store brownies in refrigerator for a refreshing lemon treat. Warm a knife (either under the faucet or have a mug of warm water handy) for easy clean cutting. Relax and enjoy!

*Note: This brownie will come out looking a little runny as the “bleaching” is actually a lemon custard.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.

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Have you Tried Using Behavior Charts? Goal For It

May 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Having kids means you will have to deal with behavioral issues it just comes with the territory. With two preschoolers I face them every day and almost go nuts trying to come up with new ways to deal with the behavior without yelling all day long. Do you find yourself in the same boat as I am?

One of my neighbors shared his experience with me using Behavior Charts. The idea behind a behavior chart is that you talk about your child’s responsibilities and the bad behaviors that you find unacceptable. Then you can use a sticker reward system for each time they reach your agreement. It’s really a simple process that can be used for kids from preschool age into the teens. When they get so many stickers you can implement a prize or if they digress you could always take something away. I have found that kids are encouraged with visual aids, it helps them see how close they are getting to their goal.

Behavoir Chart

GoalForIt.com has everything you need to create your visual aids. You can create a free custom behavior chart in less than five minutes and they even have a ton of chart themes and pre-made custom charts for you to choose from. Goalforit also allows you to create your own behaviors. You can do the entire chart on-line or you can print them out. I think the younger the kids are the more important it is to print it out and have it in a central location where kids can keep tabs on it. If you choose to do it on-line Goalforit has a points system you can convert to money and then your child can instantly pick something out and be rewarded.

 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored program I’m participating in with BSM Media for Goal For It.

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Tight Spaces Wordless Wednesday

May 17, 2011 By 16 Comments

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What is Your Favorite Superhuman Superpower [Smallville]

May 17, 2011 By 2 Comments

The thought of having s superhuman superpower has always fascinated me. Wishing I could fly, run super fast, or have x-ray vision was every little kids dream right? Maybe not everyone but yeah it was mine. I was once Supergirl for Halloween, if I admitted the truth I might have been her for more than one year. Clark Kent didn’t have the luxury of pretending to have superhuman superpowers as a kid. He had them. In the very first episode, the pilot, Clarks first superhuman superpower is revealed. We find that this Kryptonian has the ability to move faster than the speed of light. Clark misses his bus but reveals that he has super speed as he beats the bus running through a cornfield. If I had super speed like that I would probably run to Texas a few times a month and back carrying the kids in my arms. Can you picture that?

In Season 2 Clark found that he had heat vision. It’s laughable to think that Clark’s sex drive actually triggered this Krptonian power. In Season 2 Episode 2 “Heat”, Clark set the movie screen in his biology class on fire while watching a nature film. He later learns how to control his “Heat” vision through dedicated practice. What do you think of this super power? It’s not my favorite at all. I would probably burn the house down.

If I had to pick one favorite Superhuman Superpower that belonged to Clark Kent it would be the ability to fly. We waited forever for Clark to realize he had the ability to fly. But I actually think that some of the meteor freaks had better powers than Clark did. From super human strength to the ability to blow a cold wind storm to all of the meteor freaks, I’d love to know what your favorite super human super power is?

The ‘Smallville: The Complete Series’ DVD lets you experience the exciting journey Clark Kent embarks upon to realize his destiny! With over 24 hours of special features and 2 hours of never before seen footage, the complete series on DVD is the ultimate resource for the Smallville fan!

 

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I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for ‘Smallville’

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The Importance of Always Being a Role Model

May 17, 2011 By 3 Comments

I’m constantly reminded that sponge one and sponge two are ALWAYS watching me. Zoe and Miles absorb everything I do, they absorb everything that everyone does, even their piers which isn’t always such a good thing. Some of my habits are not exactly what I want my children doing so I have to concentrate on being a good role model that they can look up too. IMG_0096

My grandmother was always giving to others. If you gave her a gift more than likely she would find someone that needed it rather than keep it herself. She did Meals on Wheels all the time and showed me the true meaning of giving. It’s because of her that I try to give as much as I can as well. I use my blog as a tool to give to our community, and it helps to teach Miles and Zoe to give too. They see me giving and hopefully they will learn to have a giving heart their entire lives too. I think I’m making some progress because on day Zoe told me, “Mommy, I when I grow up, I want to be a princess blogger”. So she’s got part of it down.

But more than just the giving, I really want to show them how to be strong, independent kind adults. The Milk Mustache Campaign on Facebook understands that moms are central in determining the type of people our children turn out to be as adults. They learn to make nutritious eating decisions, how to treat their friends, and how to make many other complicated decisions just by watching us.  The National Milk Mustache Got Milk campaign is now providing the resources and encouragement to help moms stay the course, Be A Role Model. The new interactive Milk Mustache Facebook page features a customizable ePostcard app that allows you to send a personal greeting to someone you know, and a really cute video with some of my bloggy friends. You’ll also find a many great recipes that include milk, so go check it out.

 

 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the National Milk Mustache got milk? Campaign and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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This is what I Need

May 16, 2011 By 4 Comments

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I live every day for my children. When they smile and laugh, my heart is lifted.

Filed Under: personal

Make-Ahead Meals Cook Book 100+ Recipes for Home-Cooked Meals

May 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Make-Ahead Meals: 100+ Recipes for Home-Cooked Meals You Can Serve at a Moment’s Notice

imageI love to cook, and love to have healthy meals prepared for my family pretty much every night. We usually do something “out” once a week (usually a SUPER cheap hot dog or slice of pizza), but overall we are an eat at home family. Even my 10 month old is eating many of the same foods as my husband and I. The problem though, is that even the best laid plans can fall apart. When you think you’re going to be prepping dinner, the afternoon nap gets cut short. Or maybe you completely forgot a specific ingredient at the store, and can’t bear the thought of packing everyone up for a trip to the store. Maybe it’s just even that you don’t feel like cooking! Nights off are allowed! Well, that’s exactly what Make-Ahead Meals: 100+ Recipes for Home-Cooked Meals You Can Serve at a Moment’s Notice is for. This book has tons of recipes that you can make, freeze, and then pull out when you want a good, home cooked meal…well… at a moment’s notice! Sellers Publishing sent me a copy of this book to test out and review.

imageMake-Ahead Meals: 100+ Recipes for Home-Cooked Meals You Can Serve at a Moment’s Notice is full of recipes including starters, entrees, sides, sweets and sauces and salsas. The format of this book is wonderful. There are easy to follow icons to help you know how far in advance the recipe can be made: a sun for make in the morning, a calendar for making up to 1 week ahead, and a snowflake for the recipes that can be made and frozen. Always make sure that you read within the recipe though, because sometimes the calendar icon can mean just a 24 hour “make-ahead time”. There’s also a chef’s hat icon that lets you know there is a helpful tip later in the book. If you are planning to use this book, you should definitely check out the “Stocking the Pantry, ‘Fridge, and Freezer” section. Many of the recipes in the book contain some ingredients that you may not necessarily keep on hand. For example, portabella mushrooms and fresh flat leaf parsley were called for in the recipe I decided to try and took a special trip to the store to pick up. Some of the other features include a section of equipment and supplies that you need, a section with helpful tips and surprising food facts, helpful tips and information for cooking in general.

Overall, this book is a great source of ideas for meals you can pull out at the drop of a hat. Just remember to check the recipe you plan to use for any special ingredients that you don’t always keep on hand. I would also say that most of the recipes in the book are not necessarily “challenging”, but do take someone who is comfortable in the kitchen.

Last week I had the perfect opportunity to test out one of the recipes in Make-Ahead Meals: 100+ Recipes for Home-Cooked Meals You Can Serve at a Moment’s Notice. I was planning to stay busy outside all day on Friday and knew that would run into my usual dinnertime prep. I pulled out my conveniently sized cookbook and decided to try out Pork and Apple Pie. I had already looked this recipe over, and gotten all of the supplies I needed earlier in the week. Thursday night, I made our usual dinner AND took some time to make the Pork and Apple Pie. This recipe could be refrigerated for 24 hours or frozen until needed. I thought the recipe was really tasty, and so did my little one. My husband said that he must just be one of those weird people who doesn’t like pork and apple together. You can check out the recipe under the recipe section of Momstart. You can also order the book Make-Ahead Meals: 100+ Recipes for Home-Cooked Meals You Can Serve at a Moment’s Notice put out by Sellers Publishing and have tons of your own make-ahead meals.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and a very active member of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

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