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Product Update: Byron’s Fully Cooked Pork BBQ

July 31, 2011 By 6 Comments

From Summer:

I heard back from representation of Byron’s BBQ and they said, “Please tell Summer thank you and also I appreciate the feedback on some of the ingredients….good to know.” If HFCS or corn syrup are a concern of yours then keep on the lookout for Byron’s BBQ and any possible changes they may make to their ingredients. Since they’re actually listening and following, I’d like to add that I’d love to see them at Costco (in addition to their BJ’s and Sam’s Club) since that’s the wholesale warehouse I belong to exclusively.

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About Summer:

Summer is very active in 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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Have a Mold Problem, Check Out Natural Concrobium Mold Control Giveaway

July 31, 2011 By 145 Comments

Living in the Pacific Northwest where it’s almost always wet has taught me a thing or two about mold and how hard it is to get rid of once you have it. Our old house, had broken window seals. The double pain windows were not keeping moisture out of the house like they were supposed to so the walls were getting moldy around the windows. It was a pain in the butt to get rid of. I even thought I got rid of it all and painted the walls and guess what? The nasty mold came back! YUCK! I think I finally got rid of it with bleach and new clip_image002windows because it did finally stop coming back but it took forever and I can’t count how many chemicals I used. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a natural mold control solution?

Traditional mold-fighting solutions, like bleach, can kill mold temporarily but will not prevent it from coming back. Planet People’s Concrobium Mold Control, an EPA-registered 2-in-1 solution, gives moms the power to both eliminate and prevent mold from coming back without resorting to hazardous chemicals like bleach. Concrobium keeps children free from the accompanying negative health effects of indoor mold while effectively and safely removing the problem.

 

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I received some to see if it would fight the mold or whatever is growing on our back porch. But it appears that whatever is on our back porch is more of a stain. The main use for Concrobium is to kill mold spores and prevent future mold growth, not to necessarily remove mold stains. If there is residual staining from the mold, which is essentially a cosmetic issue once the mold has been killed, treatments such as repainting or sanding may be necessary if Concrobium hasn’t fully eliminated the stain.

Price:  $9.99 for the 32 oz. Spray Bottle

Availability: Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards and other major home improvement retailers and grocery stores.

More information: Visit Planet People.  Planet People believes that consumers should not have to choose between a clean home and a clean planet. That’s why all Planet People products are high performance cleaning solutions made from 100% non-toxic and ecologically sustainable ingredients that pose no harm to users or the environment.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, TawndaM.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules. We received free samples.

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Turn any night into Mexican Quick & Easy Hormel Recipe Changes

July 30, 2011 By 15 Comments

My favorite food is Mexican, I LOVE Mexican everything. The spices, chilies, beans, meat, rice, salsa, dips it’s all the perfect combination to my food pallet. I think it’s the cumin, when I’m in the Hispanic food kick, I get out the cumin and add it to everything. I was cooking pizza the other night out of cumin and I had a thought, what would be the easiest way to turn any regular meal into a Mexican dish?

How about just switching any red sauce, or ketchup product with Salsa! Hormel makes Chi Chi’s Salsa and Herdez Salsa and I have to warn you that the Herdez Chipotle Salsa has quite the kick.

Hormel Salsa Flavors Herdez Chipotle Chi Chi Mild

Use Salsa in place of red sauce in pizza or Calzones.

 

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Simply Mexican Pepperoni Biscuit Calzones Recipe

Ingredients:

Pillsbury Simply Biscuits
1 cup Pepperoni
1 cup Herdez Chipotle Salsa (quite the kick)
1 cup Mozzerella cheese

Directions:

Roll out each biscuit
Place on a non-stick pan
Pour a spoonful of sauce on each one
Add three pieces of pepperoni
Fold Over into a calzone

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Mexican Meatloaf Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 lb hamburger meat
2 cups cooked carrots
1/2 cup Mexican Blend cheese
1/2 cup crushed crackers 2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup Chi Chi’s Salsa

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a food processor add all the ingredients and mix well.
Place the mixture in a glass baking dish (2.75 quart)
Bake for 30-45 minutes or until temperature is safe

I received free products from Hormel and this post enters me into the Hormel Extended Family Blogger Contest.

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I’m addicted: Thomas’ Blueberry Bagel Thins & Real Butter

July 30, 2011 By 7 Comments

Our family loves Thomas’ Bagel Thins and we were eating them all the time until Costco started buying the Thomas Everything Bagel Things Flavor. Yuck, I’m just not into onions on my bagel. What I am into having on my bagel is blueberries. Oh heavens!!!

Thomas’ Bagel Thins has just added a new flavor to their line of Bagel Thins. Now imagein addition to Plain Bagel Thins, 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins, Cinnamon Raisin Bagel Thins and Everything Bagel Things, you can find the Blueberry Bagel things made with Whole Grain.

Unless you live in the West. Oh it’s frustrating because they sent me a sample to try them out and I CANT BUY THEM.

Made with 10 grams of Whole Grains, Blueberry Bagel Thins Bagels are just the right size at only 110 calories per serving so you feel guilt-free and beach ready! Toasted and topped with butter, cream cheese or your favorite morning spread, Thomas’ Blueberry Bagel Thins Bagels are an excellent source of fiber to satisfy your palate and bring a boost of flavor to your morning.

I’ve been eating them with real butter. Oh it’s been delicious and I can’t wait until I can buy them here. Please send them my way soon! I’m having blueberry bagel thins withdrawals.

 

We received samples to try these out. Results are my own.

Filed Under: personal, review Tagged With: , , ,

Ten Brew Over Ice K-Cup Portion Pack Treats #YourPerfectCup

July 30, 2011 By 9 Comments

The temperature is up, it’s hot hot hot around here and everywhere else is even hotter. So the thought of hot coffee is probably not very appealing for now. But don’t let that affect your indulgences. Just have it over ice.

 

iced coffee

1. Celestial Seasonings Half and Half Black Tea and Lemonade – This one is our favorite summer flavor the combination is a perfect sweetness.

2. Green Mountain Coffee French Vanilla Iced Coffee – I’m a big fan of French Vanilla, I love to add French Vanilla creamer to this one

3. Green Mountain Nantucket Blend Iced Coffee – I like to pair this coffee with Peppermint Mocha Creamer.

4. Celestial Seasonings Sweet Peach Iced Tea – I’ve been a long time fan of Peach tea and this one is no exception

5. Celestial Seasonings Southern Sweet Perfect Iced Tea – I’m from Texas and most people don’t consider Texas to be part of the south, but I must admit I’m a southern girl at heart and love southern sweet tea.

6. Celestial Seasonings Sweet Raspberry Iced Tea – The sweet Raspberry tea is perfect the way it is. No creamer needed

Flavors I haven’t tried yet but really want to

7. Celestial Seasonings Unsweetened Black Tea

8. Celestial Seasonings Berry lime Tea

9. Celestial Seasonings Tropical Breeze Tea

10. Celestial Seasonings Sweet Lemon Tea

 

I’m a Keurig Green Mountain K-Cup Portion Pack Ambassador and receive a monthly sample of free coffee. We’ve been using the Keuirg coffee machine for 5 years.

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10 Reasons Why I Love Doctor Who Series 6 Part 1 and Waiting for Part 2

July 29, 2011 By 10 Comments

It was just a few weeks ago, I was in my hotel room on one of my blogging trips watching TV and got to see an episode of Doctor Who Series 5, but at the time I didn’t realize what series I was watching and I didn’t care. I was just so excited to be watching Doctor Who on TV. Since we don’t have cable we watch everything as it comes out on DVD and we haven’t purchased Dr. Who Series 5 yet, not having seen Matt Smith play the role yet; I’m still personally in turmoil over David Tennant leaving the role.

But now, I’ve seen Matt Smith in action as Doctor Who and figured out who River is, but there is a huge gap for me as to how Amy and Rory met and what they did the season before. So I HAVE to go back and watch Doctor Who: Series 5. Here is why I LOVED Doctor Who Series 6 Part 1.USBD WHO S06_01 3D cmyk

1. Doctor Who: Series 6, Part 1 is a two-disc DVD and Blu-ray set containing the first seven episodes along with two Monster files, “The Gangers” and “The Silence,” two of the Doctor’s most challenging opponents.

2. River Song is such an awesome character.

DW S11.2 EPISODE 1

3. In the season opener, “The Impossible Astronaut,” four envelopes are received, numbered 2, 3 and 4, each containing a date, time and map reference, unsigned, but in TARDIS blue. Who sent them? And who received the missing number one? This strange summons reunites the Doctor (Smith), Amy (Gillan), Rory (Darvill) and River Song (Kingston) in the middle of the Utah desert and unveils a terrible secret the Doctor’s friends must never reveal to him. ‘Space 1969’ is their only clue, as their quest lands them – quite literally – in the Oval Office, where they are enlisted by President Nixon himself to assist enigmatic former-FBI agent Canton (Mark Sheppard) in saving a terrified little girl from a mysterious spaceman.DW S11.2 EPISODE 2

4. I knew right away who that little girl was.

5. Following the two-parter, the Doctor, Amy and Rory journey on the high seas of 1696 aboard Avery’s (Bonneville) pirate ship to solve the mystery of the Siren (Cole).

EPISODE 3

6. In a bubble universe at the very edge of reality, the Doctor meets an old friend with a new face, and in a monastery on a remote island in the near future, an industrial accident takes on a terrible human shape.

7. The two-parter episodes always leave me hanging and wanting more Doctor Who ASAP.

8. Everyone that ever owed the Doctor a favor returns to repay the debt.

9. The battle of Demon’s Run, and the Doctor’s darkest hour. Can even the truth about River Song save the Time Lord’s soul? Only two things are certain. Silence will fall. And a good man is going to die…

10. I was on the edge of my seat and still am. I have unanswered questions from the first episode. Was that the real Doctor who died?

We received a copy of Doctor Who Series 6 Part 1 From BBC America.

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Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2 & Spy Kids 3 Blu-ray Giveaway

July 29, 2011 By 230 Comments

Wow, it’s been years since I’ve seen Spy Kids. I remember watching Spy Kids and Spy Kids 2 when they originally came out. I love watching movies and there were pretty cute. I find that Antonio Banderas is cute as a dad. Spy Kids is full of action and that action keeps going throughout each of the movies and it will be interesting to see if they can keep it up with their fourth film hitting theaters August 19th.

spy kids 4Just in time for the new theatrical film Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World releasing in 3-D nationwide,  Lionsgate will debut the three Miramax films that started it all on Blu-ray Disc Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3: Game Over. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (The Adventures of Sharkboy & Lavagirl, Sin City), the films feature star-studded casts that include Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Alexa Vega (Twister) and Carla Gugino (Sucker Punch) and feature guest appearances by Teri Hatcher (TV’s “Desperate Housewives”), Steve Buscemi (Big Fish), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), Salma Hayek (Frida), Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy) and Cheech Marin (Cars). Combined, these family films grossed more than $460 million worldwide.

All three releases come packed with fun special features that kids will love including the “10-Minute Film School,” deleted scenes and multiple featurettes. In addition, this will be the home entertainment debut of all-new special features for the original Spy Kids! Including stunt and special effects featurettes and more, this is the first time viewers will be able to go behind the scenes of the original Spy Kids film. Available on August 2nd, each Blu-ray Disc premiere will include a digital copy of the film for the suggested retail price of $19.99.

Today we have a fun giveaway to celebrate the fun Spy Kids movies going to blu-ray. You can win one of all three titles.

Spy Kids 1

Masters of disguise, innovators of invention, and superstars of sleuthing, Gregorio (Antonio Banderas) and Ingrid (Carla Gugino) are the best secret agents on Earth. Working for rival nations, they are sent to kill each other but instead fall in love. Now proud parents, they are called back to duty nine years later when their former colleagues start vanishing one by one thanks to evil genius Fegan Floop (Alan Cumming). But when they too disappear, there are only two people in the world who can rescue them…their kids! This high-octane adventure from director Robert Rodriguez is a must-see for everyone in the family.

Spy Kids 2

The pint-sized spy siblings are back in action! Having joined the family spy business, Juni (Daryl Sabara) and Carmen (Alexa Vega) rise up to save the planet from a mad scientist (Steve Buscemi) living on a remote island populated by all kinds of dangerous, crazy creatures. As this bizarre environment wreaks havoc on their gadgets, the Spy Kids must rely on their smarts — and each other — to save the day!

 

Spy Kids 3

The Spy Kids have entered a new dimension that will test their abilities like never before! Under-age agents Juni (Sabara) and Carmen (Vega) embark on their most mind-blowing mission yet: journeying inside a virtual-reality video game world designed to disorient them. Relying on their bravery, cool gadgets, lightning-quick reflexes – and, most importantly, their family – the Spy Kids must battle through level after level of the game as they race against the clock to save the world yet again from a new megalomaniacal villain, the Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone).

 

Spy Kids *Blu-ray debut!

Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams *Blu-ray debut!

Spy Kids 3: Game Over *Blu-ray debut!

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Ericka.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules. We received a copy of the movies.

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Halo Bars –The Sinfully Healthy Snack Giveaway

July 29, 2011 By 172 Comments

Halo Bars – The Sinfully Healthy Snack Review and Giveaway

I worked so hard to get “in shape” (or at least more in shape than I was) before our family took a couple of beach vacations. Somehow over the month and half though I have slipped back into some seriously bad habits. Cereal at bedtime, lattes from local drive thrus (thank you gift card), experiments with baking desserts… it all spells out some extra poundage. Not cool. Well that’s when ProBars new line of Halo Bars literally came knocking at my door. I was given the opportunity to do a Halo Bar Review and boy did it come at a good time.

clip_image006When you first hear that there is a healthy, all natural, low sugar bar that tastes like a dessert, you might have some serious doubts. I did! Once I bit into the chewey deliciousness of the Smores Halo Bar, all of my doubts were washed away… seriously… with the glass of water I washed it down with. (Remember? I’m trying to get back into healthy!) I easily throw a few Halo Bars into my purse and even into a lunchbox for our family when we’re on the go!

According to their website Halo is:

  • Sinfully Healthy Snack
  • Certified Organic
  • Only 150 Calories
  • Low in Sugar
  • Vegan and Dairy Free
  • All Natural
  • Good Source of Omega 3 & 6

imageHalo Bars come in 4 mouth watering, not healthy tasting, flavors. They seriously taste like a decadent dessert. S’mores, Rocky Road, Nutty Marshmallow, and Honey Graham. My favorite is Nutty Marshmallow… no… Smores… uh… I can’t decide! Whatever your favorite is, you can easily find their nutritional information on the ProBar website when you click on each flavor. They also provide you with an easy way to purchase these bars for you and your family in the Probar Online Store. While $1.39 per bar isn’t cheap, it’s not necessarily overpriced either. I know there are some cookies on the market out there with a lot more sugar and UN-natural ingredients that go for the same or more.

imageHere is more on what Halo has to say about themselves: Although there are lots of organic, nutritious ingredients in HALO bars, the primary sugar we use is organic brown rice syrup. In contrast to typical sugars like corn syrup, brown rice syrup has a low glycemic value and does not cause a sudden spike in blood sugar after consuming it. This is because the sugar profile in this syrup is 50% soluble carbohydrates, 45% maltose and 3% glucose. The glucose is immediately absorbed and metabolized, maltose takes from 1-1.5 hours, and soluble carbohydrates take 2-3 hours to be metabolized. This results in a constant supply of energy spread over a long time rather than a sudden rush. HALO bars have zero trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils.

TO SAVE

Seriously! How could this get any better. Well, MomStart readers are lucky enough to have access to a special discount code. All you have to do is shop at http://shop.theprobar.com and enter the code BLOGGER upon checkout. You’ll get a one time 40% discount! Incredible, right? Halo is also offering up a giveaway box through MomStart! Make sure you leave your comments about how excited you are to finally have a healthy, decadent, delicious, and again… HEALTHY choice for dessert!

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Nicole C.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules. We received a prize pack and gift card in exchange for this post.

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 as President of our Chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

Don’t forget to enter one of our Great Giveaways

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Pampers Gifts To Grow

July 29, 2011 By 7 Comments

I thought that since I am a Pampers Ambassador that I would start sharing these codes with you when I come across them.

pampers gifts to grow

Earn points toward scooters, strollers, books, magazine subscriptions, gift cards, and even charitable donations. Join now and get 100 Free Points. You will also receive periodic emails and special offers.

Join Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards program and receive 100 free points toward your purchase of Pampers goods.

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Giveaway Jingle Link Up Your Giveaways Here

July 28, 2011 By 12 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 try to remember to tweet it out to all of my twitter followers. If you could link directly to the giveaway you want me to tweet that would be very helpful. At 10,000 followers and growing all the time! Cool? I hope so!

boy with ballons

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

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