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Snickerdoodle Waffles Recipe

June 20, 2011 By 6 Comments
Whenever I get back from traveling my husband makes dinner. He is awesome at taking care of me like that, and really good at making breakfast for dinner. He decided to make something he’s never made before and he came up with Snickerdoodle Waffles. The recipe is adapted from the Krusteaz Pancake recipe on the package.

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Snickerdoodle Waffle Recipe

Snickerdoodle Waffles Recipe
5.0 from 1 reviews
Print
Recipe Type: Breakfast
Author: Andrew Bishop
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 2 mins
Total time: 12 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 egg
  • 3 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
Directions
  1. Heat griddle up to 375 degrees
  2. Mix up all the dry ingredients
  3. Add liquids, whisk until blended
  4. Cook 1 1/2 minutes per side
Google Recipe View Microformatting by Easy Recipe
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Meeting The Muppets

June 20, 2011 By 9 Comments

Back in January I had the chance to sit down with Miss Piggy and Kermit and discuss the upcoming movie bringing the gang back together and how it’s been 11 years since the Muppets’ last big-screen feature film

The Muppets

I also had the chance to meet Walter. Walter is the world’s biggest Muppet fan. He becomes friends with Gary (Jason Segel) and Mary (Amy Adams) and sets out to get the Muppet gang back together. Kermit and Miss Piggy were living separately as Miss Piggy was perusing a career as a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris. As Kermit, Mary, Walter, and Gary set out to get everyone back together they discover a nefarious plan to raze the Muppet Theater and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds by an oilman named Tex Richman (Chis Cooper). But first they had to finish finding everyone else. Fozzie was in Reno performing with a casino tribute band called the Moopets. Animal was in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo was a high-powered plumbing magnate.

After chatting with me the Muppets allowed me to watch the filing of their movie. They take acting very seriously (they were constantly reminded to stop making jokes and concentrate on their fabulous acting skills). It was an experience to remember. With secret, signature, celebrity cameos, “The Muppets” hits the big screen Nov. 23, 2011.

 

 

THE MUPPETS hits theaters November 23, 2011

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Top 20 Red Carpet Dresses

June 20, 2011 By 11 Comments

22 Fabulous Mommy Bloggers walked the red carpet for the Cars 2 World Premiere at the El Capitan on Saturday June 18th and they were absolutely stunning in their fashionable Red Carpet attire. Check out the Top 20 Red Carpet Dresses straight from the Oscar Staircase.

Red Carpet Dress

 

The bloggers in the photo album are:

 

Be sure to visit each and every one of these hot mommas and see what other adventures they embark upon soon.

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Dinosaur Train Father’s Day Breakfast Ideas

June 18, 2011 By 3 Comments

My kids love PBS Kids. We watch Word World and Dinosaur Train the most. So when it comes to planning a surprise for Father’s Day it wasn’t hard for me to get my children involved in the planning with a Dinosaur Train theme breakfast for dad!

If your children want to make plans for their dad’s breakfast like we are, they will enjoy this clip from Gilbert, the Junior Conductor, in which the Pteranadon Family enjoys eating breakfast on the Dinosaur Train. For your budding paleontologist help them dig up a dino-rific breakfast with these suggestions:

clip_image002clip_image004*DINOSAUR EGGS – Let the kids prepare a pot with water. Moms you’ll need to get the stove top going and place the pot on top. Boil up the eggs (8 minute) and then dump them into a colander. Let your children run cold water over them until they are cool to the touch (2-5 minutes). For immediate serving, allow the children to crack the eggs a little by tapping them on the counter, like eggs in a pteranadon nest (if you want to make a nest boil some spaghetti noodles with the eggs and place the noodles as a bed on the plate to rest the eggs inside). For made-a-head, have your children draw cracks on the eggs with a black non-toxic black crayon.

*T.REX FOOTPRINT PANCAKES - Let the children assist you in making the batter for pancakes. Mom will cook up the patches and when their done allow the children to cut them into footprint shapes using a cookie cutter or a toddler knife such as the ones we own from our Gerber utensil set. You can also have the children use any dinosaur cookie cutters you own to shape dad’s pancakes.

clip_image006*PALEONTOLOGIST WAFFLES – If your dad (or children) enjoy playing “hide-a-go-seek” than maybe mom would rather make waffles. Stack them as high as daddy like them and allow the children to hide yummies between the layers – such as slices of banana, apple, strawberries; chocolate chips; crushed pineapple; nutella or other nut/seed butter; or shredded coconut. Let them mix and match as they please. Mom can prepare the goodies by providing a ramekin of each use by the hiders. Then dad can seek out these “fossils” while digging into his waffles!

clip_image008*CONDUCTOR CONCESSIONS – Before you enter the lunch “time tunnel”, top off dad’s breakfast with a colorful, healthy smoothie. Blend yogurt with dad’s favorite fruits. Your child can help wash and peel any fruits. Mom will need to prepare and operate the blender.

IMPORTANT: Before serving any of these dishes, make sure that no one is allergic to any of the ingredients, or should not eat particular foods because of a family dietary practice. Keep in mind your family members’ dietary desire to be herbivore, omnivore, or carnivore.

Before Father’s Day morning, mommy and children can write and design a menu to announce all the tasty foods to be served. Before preparing any food, have a discussion with all the cooks about safety in the kitchen. Talk about the jobs an adult should do and jobs a child can do in the kitchen.

After breakfast take Dr. Scott’s advice and, “Get outside, get into nature and make your own discoveries.”

 

Tell Mom Start your Dino-Dad breakfast plans.

 

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 while cooking up a storm.

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Rent Video Games At RedBox

June 18, 2011 By 289 Comments

My husband is such a video game player. He LOVES to play video games and has inoculated our children into the same doctrine. Ok, so I’ve been known to play the occasionally video game as well. But boy are video games expensive. Redbox understand the desire to play video games and is jumping in on the action. Redbox game rentals went nationwide in 21,000 locations Friday, June 17. Top video games will join new release movies for only $2 a day complementing $1 DVD and $1.50 Blu-ray™ daily rental prices In conjunction with Father’s Day this Sunday they are generously offering up some promotional video game codes.

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Upon launch, redbox will feature games across the three major console platforms: PLAYSTATION® 3, Nintendo Wii™ and Xbox 360®. Video game titles will range from top releases to popular family and kids titles. “Redbox will make discovering the latest games as easy as a trip to the local grocery, convenience or drug store,” said Joel Resnik, vice president, games, redbox. “Redbox will increase consumers’ access to video game rentals by leveraging our incredible technology and business model to keep rental prices low for consumers,” said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox. “With more than 21,000 redbox locations slated to feature video game rentals alongside movies this June, redbox will be the one-stop shop for entertainment.”

It’s a great way to try out a game before you buy it.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Michelle.

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FDA Regulations on SPF and Sunblock

June 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I was sitting in the airport the other day waiting for my airplane and CNN Broadcasted that the Food and Drug Administration, FDA,  will be enforcing changes on sunblock makers. As a mom, buying sunblock and be very confusing, what SPF is best, what brand is best, do I need to worry about chemicals, or what about waterproof verses sport? How can we possibly be expected to make a decision with all of the sunblock brands out there blasting that theirs is the best?

The new rules will specify which lotions provide the best protection against the sun and prohibit exaggerated claims like “waterproof” on product packaging.  The F.D.A’s goal with the new regulations is to prevent the most common problem with sunscreens lotions, consumer failure to use enough of them. Recently, Prevention Magazine found that only 31% of women wear sunscreen, despite the overwhelming evidence that it should be applied every day.  Many of those women who skip SPF said they feel guilty about it, so much so that 69% of women lie to themselves, saying they don’t need sunscreen. Crazy, I often forget that I need to apply the sunscreen to myself every day no matter what the weather is, but which one?

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The FDA is hoping to save us all a few headaches by making sure that some regulations are put into place. One, the FDA is proposing a regulation that would require sunscreen products that have SPF values higher than 50 to be labeled as “SPF 50+.” FDA does not have adequate data demonstrating that products with SPF values higher than 50 provide additional protection compared to products with SPF values of 50.

Two, the FDA is requesting data and information on different dosage forms of sunscreen products. The agency currently considers sunscreens in the form of oils, creams, lotions, gels, butters, pastes, ointments, sticks, and sprays to be eligible for potential inclusion in the OTC sunscreen monograph – meaning that they can be marketed without individual product approvals. For sunscreen spray products, the agency requests additional data to establish effectiveness and to determine whether they present a safety concern if inhaled unintentionally. These requests arise because sprays are applied differently from other sunscreen dosage forms, such as lotions and sticks.

To help consumers select and use sunscreens appropriately, the final regulations include these additional labeling provisions:

  • Sunscreen products that are not broad spectrum or that are broad spectrum with SPF values from 2 to14 will be labeled with a warning that reads: “Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.”
  • Water resistance claims on the product’s front label must tell how much time a user can expect to get the declared SPF level of protection while swimming or sweating, based on standard testing. Two times will be permitted on labels: 40 minutes or 80 minutes.
  • Manufacturers cannot make claims that sunscreens are “waterproof” or “sweatproof, or identify their products as “sunblocks.” Also, sunscreens cannot claim protection immediately on application (for example, “instant protection”) or protection for more than two hours without reapplication, unless they submit data and get approval from FDA.

These measures are necessary, says Lydia Velazquez, PharmD, in FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Regulation Development, because “our scientific understanding has grown. We want consumers to understand that not all sunscreens are created equal.”
“This new information will help consumers know which products offer the best protection from the harmful rays of the sun,” Velazquez says. “It is important for consumers to read the entire label, both front and back, in order to choose the appropriate sunscreen for their needs.”

Please continue to use sunscreen every day no matter what the sunshine condition is outside. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through clouds on a cloudy day. Which is why my own doctor tells me to lather it on every single day.

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Top Ten Cars 2 Toys

June 18, 2011 By 5 Comments

With the Cars 2 Movie coming out within the next week, there are many many really cool Cars 2 toys that should be on this list, but with any top ten list only ten can make the cut. So here is the Top Ten Cars 2 Toy List.

1. Cars 2 Lightning McQueen Learning Laptop by VTech

Revved for fun, the Lightning McQueen Learning Laptop features fifteen activities that teach letters, words, math and logic. It comes with a full QWERTY keyboard, LCD screen, fun tire-shaped mouse and three Cars character buttons. Geared for ages 4+ your kids will learn while enjoying the fun of Lightning McQueen.

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2. Cars 2 Operation

Our kids love to play Operation and Cars 2 is sure to ignite a love for Operation in yours. Be sure to use a steady hand. If the tweezers touch the tow truck, warning noises will sound. The cars crew shifts into gear for another high-octane adventure in 2011 with Cars 2. Recommended age 6 and up. Players 1 or more

3. Cars 2 Monopoly Race Track Game

My husband and I are HUGE monopoly fans, we’re collectors actually and the Cars 2 Monopoly looks like a fine addition. Monopoly Cars 2 Edition is new and unlike any monopoly game seen yet. The game board has been made into a round racetrack that also serves as the game dice in this exciting take on the classic game. This child-friendly Cars 2 edition of Monopoly gives the younger real estate moguls in training a chance to face off and race to the finish line by outsmarting and out-bidding opponents. Recommended age 5 and up, players 2 to 8.

4. Cars 2 Grand Prix Microphone

Level 2 Grand Prix Microphone, the cordless Mic with built-in speakers allows you to Hear McQueen and Car Sound Effects. By age 3, toddlers have begun to imitate the words and tunes of familiar songs, learning through rhyme and repetition. Open-ended toys encourage imaginative, creative play.

5. Cars 2 Spy Shifters Transforming Finn McMissile

Spy Shifters Finn McMissile is ready for any secret mission! Press once and he will transform for action with his pop-open Tail Gun, and Top Missiles! Press again and his weapons go back undercover! Collect them all! Kids will love reenacting their favorite scenes from the movie with the Cars 2 Spy Shifters Transforming Finn Mc Missile.

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6. Lights and Sounds Die-Cast Assortment Cars

Lights and Sounds Die-Cast Assortment Cars 2 Target Exclusive set is sure to be on my children’s wish list.

7. Disney Pixar Cars 2 World Grand Prix RIDEMAKERZ Lightning McQueen Custom Kit 12 Pieces

For the full RIDEMAKERZ experience you need to head out to your local Disney Store. Ridemakerz offers kids the opportunity to customize and "trick out" their very own Cars 2 ride! Disney Pixar Cars 2 World Grand Prix Lightning McQueen Custom Kit Includes: Body, 1 Spoiler, 4 Racing Slicks Tires, 4 Red 8-Barrel Rims, 1 Vented Dual Hood and Scoop. 2 Flamin’ Side Pipes 1 Decal Sheet.

8. LEGO Cars Mater’s Spy Zone 8424

Team up for a top secret spy mission! Holley Shiftwell and Mater are setting out on a super secret spy mission. Help Holley to equip Mater with brand new spy gear before they set out for adventure! Complete the mission together and make it back to the spy lab safe and sound!

9. Cars 2 Lightning McQueen Alive

Fans will be in awe to see Lightning McQueen’s big personality captured in a small package as he drives around by himself both forward and backward and in complete 360s, moves his eyes, shrugs his shoulders and moves his life-like mouth to speak signature phrases voiced by actor Owen Wilson (SRP $59.99, available Fall 2011

10.Cars 2: The Video Game

Cars 2: The Video Game lets players jump into the Cars 2 universe with some of their favorite Cars personalities such as Mater, Lightning McQueen and the newly introduced Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell in exotic locations around the globe. Fans can train to become world-class spies at the international training center for CHROME (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations and Motorized Espionage) and take on dangerous missions, compete to become the fastest racecar in the world, or use their spy skills in exciting, action-packed combat racing and battle arenas. Players can race against friends and family in either single or multiplayer modes with up to four players to unlock challenging new tracks, characters, events and thrilling spy missions.

 

Of course, there are many many more toys to choose from in the Cars 2 Toy Line. These are a few of the toys that I’ve actually seen, read about myself or held in my own hands. I received a few of the toys listed above on the Disney Dream Works Blogger Event.

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Sid The Science Kid’s Backyard Campout

June 17, 2011 By 265 Comments

Sid The Science Kid is a family favorite, it’s one of the only kid shows my husband can watch with the kids over and over again. PBS must realize this is true for many families because in honor of summer we’re pumping up the buzz for a new adventure happening with Sid and his Father, Sid The Science Kid’s Backyard Campout.

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I was asked to have a campout with my family in the backyard while watching Sid the Science Kid Backyard Campout and we haven’t found the time to watch it. My house flooded, It was rainy and cold , and I’ve been out of town for 11 days and I hate that we weren’t able to do it yet. So as soon as I get home it’s going to be one of the first things we do. So be on the lookout for our full review. Also,

The local PBS station, KCTS 9, is hosting a Sid The Science Kid Backyard Campout Giveaway in honor of the Sid The Science Kid Backyard Campout episode that will air on Monday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m. and a bunch of times throughout the summer after that. They’re also going to do a blanket giveaway contest Friday June 15th and running it through the end of July. Locals to the Seattle Area can discover more to love about KCTS 9 at Facebook.com/KCTS9 and www.twitter.com/kcts9. While others will want to check their local listings for episode time and local giveaways to enter.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Susan Smith.

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Guest Post: A Childproof Pill Organizer That Actually Organizes for Under $15.00

June 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Prescription medications are dangerous to leave easily accessible with children in the house. Young minds seem to have a particular obsession with bottles that hold capsules, which we can probably thank candy for. A friend of mine currently going through pharmacy technician training just told me that the number one risk for children overdosing from consuming pills is surprising: vitamins. Excessive amounts of iron in the system of a child can lead to coma. It’s imperative that any medicine be placed into a childproof container, especially medicine for the child and most definitely things like children’s vitamins that can be easily mistaken for candy.

After several purchases that broke or seemingly weren’t going to do the job in successfully keeping curious kid hands out, I purchased the Ezy Dose Pharmadose pill organizer on Amazon.com and haven’t regretted it since. Unlike previous childproof containers that were built to withstand nuclear detonation and therefore were essentially adultproof, the Ezy Dose organizer is incredibly difficult for children to crack yet is as simple as snapping a lid open for an adult. It’s compact and they come in a great medical blue color. The displays are easy to see through yet are so compact and seemingly impenetrable they discourage kids from tampering. Even if they do tamper with the Ezy Dose let them because this thing is a tank.

This can be construed as a reason why, despite being the ultimate in child proof pill organizers, the Ezy Dose does lack room for some of the bigger pills and capsules that are out there. This drawback isn’t so bad if you’re using the organizer for a child’s medication which is generally smaller in size, but if the medicine adds up the room runs out. The cost of an Ezy Dose on Amazon is less than 10 bucks however, and if you bought two at once the shipping will cover both, so if you’re serious about getting a child proof pill organizer yet have a lot of pills to organize, I suggest getting two.

What’s perhaps best about the Ezy Dose is that it’s durability and childproofing success is not at the expense of adult convenience. The capsules are easy to get access to with the adjustment of a concealed tab under the blue protective plate, which allows the plastic columns to be pulled out one day at a time or all at once. If you have yourself a child prodigy of sorts who has no problem figuring out how to open such a container, then you can easily turn around and give the pill organizer to an older loved one and not worry about it being too hard for them to figure out.

Overdose is a serious risk for young children if parents don’t safeguard them against the pitfalls of curiosity. Making sure your child gets the right amount of medicine on time every day is important, but so is making sure your child doesn’t take too much medicine or medicine not meant for them. Don’t overestimate your child’s inhibitions and underestimate her ingenuity. Getting a childproof medicine organizer is a great way to make sure you get a chill pill everyday.

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Hershey’s Say S’mores Canon Rebel Camera Giveaway

June 17, 2011 By 1 Comment

Oh what’s better than chocolate at a campfire? MMMM, nice hot melted chocolate with marshmallows and graham crackers, nom nom nom. My family is planning a camping trip this summer. My husband has picked the location and the availability is really open. We’re going to camp close to the beach for some sand, sun and in the Pacific Northwest that includes hiking. One thing that goes hand in hand for me when it comes to camping is the campfire and roasting marshmallows. You may not believe this, but the first time I actually used the marshmallow to make a s’more was after I met my husband. Probably because that’s also the first time I’ve been around a camp fire. My sister and I used to use a candle to roast our marshmallows. And no, our parents didn’t know. LOLSmores_Illustration

What’s Your S’mores moment? Hershey has asked me to talk to you about their summer program Say S’mores. I’m a part of a campaign with Hershey’s and The Motherhood where I’ll be creating a Say S’mores moment with my family when we go camping this summer. Since making S’more myself for the first time was with my husband, I’m quite excited to be making more chocolaty memories with him and adding our kids in on the chocolate s’more fun. Plus any family like ours sharing in a S’more moment can enter the Say S’mores giveaway. The Hershey Company is encouraging families to create their own S’mores memories with the Say S’mores campaign. Starting June 15, families are invited to capture and share their favorite S’mores moments on the Hershey’s brand Facebook page for a chance to win S’mores-themed prizes.

The Grand Prize is a Canon Rebel Camera. Our first high tech camera was the Canon Rebel, LOVE IT! And so will you so I recommend that you put together your favorite S’mores moments on Hershey’s Facebook page. The grand prize winner will also receive slate marble outdoor firebowl, $250 SnapFish gift card, roasting skewers set and all of the ingredients needed to make S’mores, including Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars. Everyone else who visits the Hershey’s brand Facebook page on or after June 16 can download the Say S’mores application to participate in monthly photo contests and receive a $1 coupon good toward the purchase of any two Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar 6-packs.

Stay tuned for how our camping trip turns out and what surprises Hershey’s has in store for us.

 

 

This is a sponsored campaign with The Motherhood on behalf of Hershey’s.

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