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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 8800 followers and growing all the time! Cool? I hope so!
I’ve got a few giveaways you might want to check out too!
These don’t look healthy … but they aren’t as naughty for you as alternatives. These are supposed to be coated with chocolate on top, but I feel less guilty (though I use the same amount of chocolate) stirring in all the chocolate chips to make this cake look more muffin-like.
These cakes also aren’t very sweet. I really like them (and so does my husband and his colleagues). If you’re looking for a great little snack for you and some mommy friends, this is it! Nature’s Path Organic’s SmartBran can be eaten as a cereal or used in baking. I’ve used SmartBran in the Diane Hendrik’s Strawberry Cheesecake crust I made earlier this year, and I got this recipe off the box. You can find other SmartBran recipes on the Nature’s Path Recipes on their site, as well as other recipes using their other products.
I think using Nature’s Path in cooking is an easy way to make healthier choices if you enjoy baking.
Nature’s Path Organic SmartBran Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup vegetable oil, plus ½ tablespoon for greasing muffin liners
1 cup vanilla soymilk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 cups SmartBran Cereal
¾ cup unbleached white flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup chocolate chips, divided
½ cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder (optional)
12 walnut halves
DIRECTIONS:
1. Set the rack in the center and preheat the oven to 350oF. Place paper liners in 12 muffin cups. Brush liners with oil.
2. Combine the soymilk and vinegar and set aside to curdle. Grind SmartBran cereal into flour in a food processor or spice grinder. (You should have a scant cup.)
3. In a large bowl, blend the ground cereal, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder (if using) baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir in ½ cup of chocolate chips.
4. In a bowl, beat the sugar and 1/3 cup of oil together for 2 minutes. Add the soymilk-vinegar mixture and beat until well combined.
5. Fold the liquid into the dry ingredients just until blended. Do not over mix. Divide the batter among the prepared cups. Gently pat the tops with your fingers to smooth them off. Distribute the remaining chocolate chips on top.
6. Bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pans back to front and continue baking until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 8 to 10 minutes longer. Transfer the cupcakes from the pan to a cooling rack.
7. Working quickly, use a spatula to spread the melted chips into an even coat on top of each cupcake. Gently press a walnut half into the middle.
8. Cool to room temperature. Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool place for up to 3 days.
MY CHANGES:
1. I didn’t use the extra ½ tablespoon for oil for the muffin liners. I didn’t seem to have a problem peeling the paper.
2. We don’t buy or use soy milk so I used fat-free cow’s milk. After the milk has curdled, I added 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
3. I didn’t divide the chocolate chips. I just poured them all into the batter and mixed. Like I’d said, this gives more of a muffin-feel than cupcake as there isn’t a “frosting”.
4. I didn’t add the espresso since I don’t like coffee, and instant is really in sin here in Seattle.
5. I didn’t add the nut to the top so that people with nut allergies could enjoy them too.
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.
From now until Mother’s Day you can help little miracles all around you. Pampers Little Miracles Mission is your mission to help make Mother’s Day special for another mother you know. All you have to do is congratulate an expecting mother with her upcoming little miracle. All you have to do is offer a mom a smile in a time they need one. All you have to do is offer a pregnant mom your seat so they can rest. All you have to do is give a mom some flowers to brighten up their day. All you have to do is something, anything to help another mom out and remind them how special their little miracles are. Moms deserve a break and any kind of outreach is a great way to lift up another mom. I’m excited for the little miracles I’ll be helping later this year at Children’s Hospital in Seattle.
Just by making a pledge on Pampers Facebook page you could be making a different on a larger scale. Pampers will throw 1,000 baby showers for expectant mothers across the country in May and June. They will be sharing pictures and stories with us so you can see how you’ve helped. Let’s continue to celebrate the special little miracles in each of our lives and uplift someone else today!
I’m a Pampers Ambassador, and I’m posting this because I love this campaign.
The Pacific Northwest (PNW) seems to be missing our spring but I’m hoping summer will hit us in full force soon. When it does I always have a park play date bag packed and ready to go. One of my must-haves is bottled water. For regular water I simply refill my own plastic bottles, but when I want something new I enjoy twist from the TalkingRain beverage company.
My husband’s company provides complementary beverages for the employees as one way of lifting company morale. When we first moved to the PNW and he began work, there was a can in the coolers I’d never seen — it was TalkingRain. It’s no surprise TalkingRain would be popular in the Seattle area since its home base is in Preston, Washington. But TalkingRain twist offers the healthier options I know our country is looking for when making drink selections. Twist is a USDA certified organic, low-calorie (less than 10 per serving), non-carbonated, preservative-free, all natural premium water. TalkingRain waters include the perfect blend of juice and fruit essences without artificial ingredients and sweeteners. For a hint of sweetness, TalkingRain twist is made with agave nectar.
twist comes in six flavors: lemon, Mandarin White Tea, Mango Acai, pomegranate Blueberry, West Indies Lime, and Wild Strawberry. These plastic bottles fill at 19oz for $1.29 – $1.49. You can purchase Talking Rain twist from Amazon or find a Talking Rain store in your area to grab a bottle. TalkingRain also offers Sparkling ICE, Botanicals, and airwater.
You can find TalkingRain on their site and you can Like Talking Rain on Facebook (They currently have only 122 fan … Can Mom Start readers get them to 200? Like them and tell them we sent you!).
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 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.
I grew up on comic books. I have a reading disability and growing up having my schools’ parent helpers having me read comic books. I could read anything I wanted and they would purchase them for me to promote reading. Though this didn’t solve anything; it did make me love to read comics.
As I grew older my friends and I use to read comics and I can remember as late a middle school role playing characters … granted I was the one girl out of the guys, but that made character selection easy for me. Now I’m the mom of two boys and when my oldest has a superhero question he automatically asked dad, to which the replay is, “Go ask your mom; she knows more about that stuff than I do.”
As an adult I love refreshing my memory with all the new superhero movies which have been surfacing and successfully screening. My husband and I don’t get to the theater as often any more, but lately we rented Iron Man 2 and I’m excited for the Thor and Captain America movies coming out this summer. I’m more excited for these movies because I know they’re the “back story” of the superheroes which will ultimately become one big movie of The Avengers.
I wish I could share these movies with my kids, but my children are too young and too immature of these movies. So I’m excited to tell you, that if your children love comic book characters and superheroes, then your wait is over as Walt Disney Studios has brought Marvel’s The Avengers to DVD
There are current two volumes available. Each volume contains one disc. Volume 1: Heroes Assemble! has 7 episodes and Volume 2: Captain America Reborn! has 6 episodes; each episode is approximately 22 minutes long. The volumes are sold separately at the affordable price of $19.99 each (or on Amazon right now for $12.99 and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping []). This is a great gift for your superhero loving child or for a birthday gift. I love when a friend and I can get together to make one ultimate gift, we could each buy a disc and if anyone else wanted in then we could add some action figures. Keep in mind these DVDs are rated TV-Y7.
The DL on the DVDs:
Volume 1 Episodes: (about 154 minutes long)
1. Iron Man Is Born!
2. Thor The Mighty
3. Hulk Versus The World
4. Meet Captain America
5. The Man in the Ant Hill
6. Breakout: Part 1
7. Breakout: Part 2
Volume 2 Episodes: (about 132 minutes long)
8. Some Assembly Required
9. Living Legend
10. Everything Is Wonderful
11. Panther’s Quest
12. Gamma World: Part 1
13. Gamma World: Part 2
To find out what’s next from the Walt Disney Studios and Company you can check out their site, Like Disney on Facebook, and track them on Twitter @Disney.
For news from Marvel Entertainment, LLC you can check out their site, Like Marvel on Facebook, and track them on Twitter @Marvel.
I thought it fitting to post a great quote I heard last night while watching one of my favorite TV shows Stargate SG1 in honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday.
Vala: There’s nothing to be gained by second-guessing yourself. You can’t remake the past. So look ahead. Or risk being left behind.
Bra’tac: She displays the wisdom of a battle-seasoned warrior. Jackson: She’s a mother. Close enough.
Ever feel like a battle-seasoned warrior?
Raising kids is a difficult yet very rewarding task we face every day from the moment they are born. My children keep me on my toes, make me want to pull my hair out, have me buckled over in laughter, and give me tears of frustration, worry and happiness. The kids are constantly testing me pushing my limits of patience and I’m always worried that I’m way to hard on them. I feel like a drill Sargent sometimes, and worry so much about everything I say. Was I too hard on them? Did I say the right thing? Did I teach them? Do they know I love them more than anything else in the world?
The fits, they drive me crazy, I yell. I’m imperfect.
But at the end of every day exhausted and drained, I have to let it go and start the next day new. Being a mother, my biggest challenge is letting go of my mistakes and facing each new day new and refreshed. I even have to try to remind myself that even in the middle of the day if I’ve made parenting mistakes and you know I make them every day, I have to let go and do the best I can. I tell my kids I love them every night and when they look at me and say “love you too” there is peace in my heart.
Being a Mother is like being a battle seasoned warrior.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
If anyone knows the language of love it’s a mother. I’ve always thought I knew what love was. I really love my husband, that being said, once I gave birth to my children, my love level changed. It grew to a level I never knew could possibly exist. It even grew from one child to another. Before I had my son I wondered if I would feel the same for him as I do my daughter and I do. Mother’s know the language of love.
Western Union wants to celebrate Mother’s on Mother’s Day, Father’s on Father’s Day and anyone who means something special to you with their new campaign Love In Any Language. The Love in any Language campaign is designed to honor mothers, family, friends and loved ones, who have all provided so much throughout the years. There are people in our lives that just touch us in so many ways and they deserve a little love back. The Love in any Language campaign takes a musical approach, which is universally used to express love towards others in any language. Music transcends all languages just like love.
In a survey conducted by Western Union with Wakefield Research it was found that most people have trouble coming up with a great Mother’s Day gift……
So send mom a gift card with a little music and money. The cards being utilized for the giveaway are available online at Western Union in amounts up to $100 and include a customizable printed greeting card and a personalized voice message.
50.00 Visa Gift Card from Western Union (2 winners)
Tell me what you are thinking of getting Mom For Mother’s Day, or what you did get her depending on when you enter this giveaway.
Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post
Celebrate Love in Any Language with $100.00 Western Union Visa Gift Card #Giveaway @Momstart http://bit.ly/ks5Rdd
or tweet
Enter to Win 1 of 2 50.00 Western Union Visa Gift Cards @MomStart http://bit.ly/ks5Rdd
Subscribe to MomStart
Comment on any non-giveaway post
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig, stumble, like or share on Facebook (or use any of the share options listed below)
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This giveaway ends May 16th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.
Disclosure: Western Union sent me the gift cards to send out to the winners on their behalf. I have also received one in exchange for organizing this giveaway.
I live in the Pacific Northwest and you’re known for our moisture … well maybe more for our precipitation, but it does tend to stay moist in my pantry, bathrooms, laundry area and closets. If you have the same problem then I can recommend Zeelytes to you!
Zeelytes will help you with your PLEDGE TO STAY GREEN and $ave green.
You’re save energy costs of running fans; According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “Dessicant dehumidification could reduce total electricity demand by as much as 25% in humid regions.” You’ll ask save by extending the shelf life of your food by reducing moisture, the spread of bacteria, and cross contamination. I’ve had mine in my pantry for about a month now and I’ve VERY impressed; the can tell the difference in my pantry were I store my potatoes, garlic, and onions. They aren’t stinking up my pantry and they are lasting longer than their normal shelf life in my pantry.
Zeelytes also works in air conditioners and makes them more efficient as it pulls the moisture out the air which reduced the amount of energy your AC needs as it will work less to process the air it’s pumping into your house.
Zeelytes is an environmentally friendly green product that is 100% biodegradable and non-toxic. Zeelytes is made from Zeolite which is a naturally occurring porous mineral. Zeelytes obtains their Zeolite from mines in the United States. Zeolites are also listed by the FDA to be GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), which designates a substance safe by experts. Plainly, Zeelytes is safe to be in your pantry and refrigerator or other areas of food storage.
To get your own Zeelytes shop their site. EWize Zeelytes can also be found on Facebook.
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 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.
Are you ready for another Monday Mingle? I sure am, I missed last week. I was behind on reviews, umm, yeah, I’m always behind. So I decided to combine this week’s Monday Mingle with a product review. It is quite fitting. The Kodak PlaySport HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is a video camera and since this week was freestyle I thought I would have a little bit of fun with it. I’m in the shower!! Oh wait, do you even know what Monday Mingle is? Just in case this is your first time to see it….
This is where we answer three questions every week over at Eighty MPH Mom on video or not you can just write them down in the comments section or on your own blog. Then we go link up and visit each other and learn about each other. This weeks’ questions: Freestyle!
The Kodak PlaySport HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera works underwater. Oh there’s a shocker right? This waterproof camera works up to a depth of 10 ft. (3m) with 1080p HD video quality and electronic image stabilization.
Kodak Playsport Waterproof HD Video Camera Comes With:
Kodak Playsport Zx3 Video Camera in quite a few different colors (purple is our favorite)
Rechargeable Battery
USB Cable
Adapter for battery charging
HDMI and AV cables
ArcSoft MediaImpresson Software for Kodak
User Guide
Wrist Strap (for those water parks)
Kodak Playsport Waterproof HD Video Camera Features:
Don’t let sun glare ruin your recording and have smooth stable video
Be creative with great video software and easy upload
The Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera
What’s going on with you this week?
Disclosure: This camera was loaned out to us for two weeks to facilitate this review from the PR Company representing Kodak.
