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Chicken Soup for the Soul Just For Preteens Giveaway

August 13, 2011 By 31 Comments

Do they have to grow up? I mean seriously. You may have just read how I feel about this in the post before, the giveaway for Chicken Soup for the Soul Just for Teenagers. Aye Yi Yi! I’m not ready, I think the age they are right now is the perfect age and I do not want them to grow up anymore. NO.

Anyway, all I’m doing here is thinking about me. This book, Chicken Soup for the Soul Just for Preteens is just for them.

chicken soup for the soul just for preteensBeing a preteen is harder than it looks! School is more challenging, bodies are changing, relationships with parents are different, and new issues arise with friends. But preteens can find encouragement and inspiration in this collection of stories by other preteens, just like them, about the problems and issues they face every day. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Preteens will help readers as they navigate those tough preteen years from ages 9 to 12 with its stories from others just like them, about the highs and lows of life as a preteen. It’s a support group they carry in their backpack!

I remember how awful middle school was now that I think about it. Kids were mean to me and someone said, I’m not your friend, and I said something really stupid like, I’m not here to be your friend I’m here to learn. Let’s just say I was off the social scene for the rest of my duration at that school. No one would touch me with a ten foot pole after that fiasco.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winners, Karen Gonyea and corrie.

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

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Chicken Soup for the Soul Just For Teenagers Giveaway

August 13, 2011 By 50 Comments

Teenagers my kids are not. Toddlers they are no longer either. On their way to growing up I often wonder what it’s going to be like to have two teenagers in the house. And all I know is that I’m not ready and that I’m glad it’s quite a few years away. The though of being a parent of a teenager isn’t something I want to ponder on for too long. But I remember how difficult it was being one too. So how can we help them. Chicken Soup for the Soul Just for Teenagers is one way to support them.

chicken soup for the soul just for teenagers101 Stories of Inspiration and Support for Teens

Teenage years are tough, but this book will help teens as they journey through the ups and downs of adolescence. Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just for Teenagers provides support and inspiration for teenagers as they grow up, reminding them they are not alone, as they read stories from teens just like themselves about the problems and issues they face every day. The stories in this book serve as a guide on topics from the daily pressures of life and school to love, friendships, parents, and much more. This collection will encourage, inspire, and amuse teens, showing that, as tough as things can get, they are not alone!

 

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winners, deb c and Lily Kwan.

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

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The Fox and The Hound & The Fox and The Hound 2 Blu-ray Hi-Def & DVD Combo Pack

August 13, 2011 By 21 Comments

Featuring an all-star cast of voice talents, toe-tapping music and fantastic bonus features, consumers can take home two of Disney’s The Fox and The Hound Box Artbeloved “tails.” The Fox and the Hound and The Fox and the Hound 2, 2-Movie Collection features both movies in a single 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack. This release provides families with the value, versatility and opportunity to enjoy their favorite movies how they want, when they want and on the entertainment platform of choice – whether it’s in the home, on a portable device and/or in the car.

I can’t remember watching The Fox and The Hound before now. I knew what it was about, but I didn’t remember how sad some parts were. I love how the fox and the hound because the best of friends even though they weren’t supposed to be, but of course trouble happened. The hound decided he could no longer be the foxes friend. The trouble was so bad that the lady who owned the fox returned him to the woods where he belonged. That made me cry. The kids loved watching The Fox and The Hound.

Now the Fox and The Hound 2 that was even more of an enjoyment for the kids. They laughed the whole time they watched it. In The Fox and the Hound 2, music takes center stage as Tod contemplates joining up with “The Singin’ Strays,” a group of harmonizing dogs appearing at the local county fair but dreaming of hitting the big time at the Grand OleOpry. While Tod does his best to fit in with his new friends, Copper finds himself relegated to “roadie,” a position he begins to resent. With the encouragement of Dixie, the “diva” of “The Singin” Strays,” Copper manages to sabotage an important audition. The next day, their differences forgotten, Copper and Tod team up and, using Copper’s superior tracking skills, they locate the Grand Ole Opry talent scout who signs “The Singin’ Strays” (minus Tod, who chooses his friendship with Copper over fame) on the spot.

We received samples for this review.

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Why Do You Really Cook Vlog

August 12, 2011 By 27 Comments

At the Hillshire Farm’s Booth at Blogher this year they were asking bloggers to tell their dirty little secrets on camera. They wanted to know the truth behind what motivates you to cook for your family. So my friend Crystal (Simply Being Mommy) and I (MomStart) jumped in the booth and shared our secret motivations behind getting dinner on the table. Watch…..

 

I think every mom of younger kids constantly hears the words I’m hungry. It’s the worst at say about 5:00 PM when my own stomach starts grumbling and I have no idea what to make. The kids are at my feet and I want to just run to the nearest fast food place to get something quick. But that’s unhealthy, costly, and unrealistic. So I cook for my family.

I actually enjoy cooking and when I do I know that I’m helping to teach my kids good decisions about food. I have all the control and know the kids are getting everything their body needs, vitamins and what not. I cook because I enjoy cooking, to save money, and to feed my kids healthy food.

 

Why do you cook?

 

 

Thank you Hillshire Farms for presenting me with this fun opportunity at Blogher.

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Giveaway Jingle Link Your Giveaway Here

August 11, 2011 By 6 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 10,300 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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Steven Curtis Chapman’s Re Creation Album

August 11, 2011 By 11 Comments

I feel like I’ve been listening to Steven Curtis Chapman my whole life. No I’m not that old, but neither is he. Steven Curtis Chapman has been recording music for years and the loss of his daughter put a pause on his life. How could it not? More than 3 years have passed since his horrific loss. Maria his daughter, was killed in a tragic accident. Since then Steven has sensed people waiting to see how he and his family were faring in the wake of the tragedy and what the next step in his musical evolution would be.

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Chapman goes on to say,

“I felt like this was an opportunity for me to tell people that my family and I really do feel like God is recreating some things in us. Last year was so hard with Mary Beth writing her book and our family doing the tour. It was our year to say, ‘okay we’re going to stand on faith and hold onto each other.’ That’s when the full force of the pain started to hit us. But now, in 2011, by God’s grace we really have the sense we are beginning to see the sunrise. As the song says, ‘joy is coming in the morning!’ We feel like morning is really starting to break for us and we’re beginning to sense there is new life starting to sprout. The real morning is still yet to come when we finally get to see Maria again in heaven, but as a family and individually we’re beginning to feel like there’s oxygen coming back into our lungs. My wife talks about it in terms of being in a forest for the last several years; in a very dense, dark forest. It’s only been recently that we started to feel like God is standing on the edge of that forest saying, ‘I want to bring you out of the forest, and your daughter is ahead of you. She’s a greater part of your future than she is of your past. And I’m leading you out, I’m leading you into this new place.’ It’s a new beginning for us and I really felt like I wanted to say that.”

Re Creation is more than just a remix CD, there are a few original songs too. For me, there is something to knowing the words to the songs you love and hearing them in a new light is fun and refreshing. That’s what I love most about Re Creation. Re Creation is inspired by his loss and moving forward with life. The other aspect to the meaning behind re:creation’s title is the opportunity Chapman has taken to re-imagine and completely re-record such classics as “Live Out Loud,” “For the Sake of the Call,” “The Great Adventure,” “Speechless,” and “Heaven in the Real World.” I love his music, new and old, re-created and classic.

With 14 tracks, Re Creation will delight and relax you. From upbeat to mellow, I found each song uplifting. I felt that most of the re makes were slower than the originals so I think it’s much more meditative than the kind of music you would dance to. I could just sit there and enjoy myself as I was taken away by Re Creation.

Re Creation Track Listing:

Do Something
Long Way Home
Live Out Loud
Great Adventure
Heaven In The Real World
Speechless
For The Sake Of The Call
Magnificent Obsession
Meant To Be
More To This Life
All That’s Left Is To Love
Morning Has Broken
Dive

 

I received a copy of the digital soundtrack and was compensated for my time. My opinions are my own.

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And That is All That Was Left of the DOVEBAR

August 11, 2011 By 17 Comments

I received a coupon to try the DOVEBAR. I really wanted to try the new peanut butter flavor (peanut butter in ice cream is a favorite of mine), but I couldn’t find it local to me. So I purchased a box of Caramel Swirl with Milk Chocolate Cashew which caramel ice cream is another favorite of mine. I’ve never had a DOVEBAR before. I’ve eaten their ice cream and liked it, but ice cream bars, are often more expensive than ice cream so we don’t keep our freeze stocked with them unless there is a sale and coupons. So summertime is full if ice cream sales and tons of coupons. But here is another problem with buying ice cream on a stick.

This is all that’s left!…….

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It goes way too fast. And I’m guilty of eating the entire box myself. I didn’t even share the Caramel Swirl with Milk Chocolate Cashew DOVEBARS.

To celebrate 55 years of the perfect marriage of ice cream and chocolate, DOVE Ice Cream is adding even more chocolate to every DOVEBAR and introducing delicious new flavors, including: Peanut Butter Swirl DOVEBAR, and three mouth-watering new pints, including Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Dulce de Leche and Chocolate Cherry Amaretto. DOVEBAR was also recently featured on the TODAY Show as the #1 overall ice cream bar in a taste test from Cook’s Country Magazine.

DOVE was also at Blogher and everyone was trying it left and right. YUM YUM YUM.

 

I received a free sample.

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Making Silly Faces Children’s CD by Nick Deysher

August 11, 2011 By 15 Comments

Oh, what fun CD this is!!! We absolutely love it. Since it has been summertime, all the children and I go upstairs to do chores after breakfast and well, we must listen to music as work goes easier like that. Making Silly Faces has been one of our favorites recently. The three beds lining up in my children’s bedroom simply just ask for jumping and this is the most prefect jumping music (and complete distraction from chores). I really enjoy all the tunes that are on this CD. When people ask me what kind of music I like, I usually just draw a blank … um, I don’t know, I like all music. Maybe that is why I like this CD so much, because it is not just one genre over and over with different lyrics but such an enjoyable variety (and NO, parents absolutely must not be tortured by children’s music …. So thanks Nick). I know this CD is a hit in our house because my children have been singing the songs lately. It does not take long to catch on to the words and tunes. I love to peak at my three rascals when they play and think nobody is watching …. Rocking out to great tunes is a good sign.

imageThe soundtracks are not only diverse in genres but in topics as well. They are intriguing to children because they touch on things that surround them every day: Why do you need to try new foods? How can you be green? Tips for a perfect Slumber Party (kindda Lady Gagaish tune), How to be Patient, and my older son’s favorite, Pirates Never Say Please. These are all subjects we discuss in our Preschool classes as well, so as an educator, I truly appreciate ways to bring even more fun into learning.

Making Silly Faces is the fourth CD from Nick and his lovely wife, Tracey. Three previous ones are One Man Band 2001, Coconut Groove 2006 – for which Nick was honored by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his dedication to children’s music with the prestigious Fred Rogers Memorial Scholarship – and People, Places and Things 2009 awarded a Gold Medal from the Parents’ Choice Foundation.

To learn more about Nick and his musical creations visit his website www.inthenickoftimemusic.com or his blog http://bathtubsinging.blogspot.com/.

Reviewed by Orshi

About Orshi:

Orshi is a teacher at UCIC where she works daily with children. She shows a great love for children as she has three of her own. She also loves Facebook, gardening and baking. She was born and grew up in Hungary and now lives across the street.

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101 Gourmet Cupcakes Cookbook: New York Cheesecake Football Bites Recipe

August 11, 2011 By 32 Comments

This Tasty Treat Thursday is with the help of Wendy Paul’s new book 101 Gourmet Cakes Bites.

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These little treats have been making a big trend and have even worked their way into retails such as Starbucks’ pastry counter. Who knew cake on a stick would be so popular, but best part of these is portion control!clip_image002

Our choice for the Mom Start feature from 101 Gourmet Cake Bites had to be something that suited me and my family, so my sons and I chose New York Cheesecake with a Football theme. Our family couldn’t be more excited for the NFL lockout to be over. We’re Chicago Bears fans; we’re sad that Olan Kreutz has been let go to the Saints and for poor Jay Culter ‘s canceled engagement (but more time to focus on his game). Preseason is around the corner and open practices, in our area, for the Seattle Seahawks have begun. But let’s get into food …

Recipe:

New York Cheesecake
1 box white cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup half-and –half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup vanilla buttercream frosting (from page 125)*
1 pound dark melting chocolate
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
White gel pen

1. Mix together cake mi, eggs, half-and-half, and vanilla extract. Batter will be thick. Pour into greased 9×13 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 28-32 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Remove from oven and cool completely. Crumble cake into small, even pieces, placing crumbs in a large bowl.

2. With the back of a spoon mix together cake crumbles with cream cheese and frosting until a thick dough consistency forms. Shape into evenly sized oblong-shaped cake bites and cool 1-2 hours in the refrigerator, or 20 minutes in the freezer.

3. Heat dark melting chocolate per directions on the package. Add oil and stir to combine with warm chocolate. Dip cake bits into dark chocolate, covering all sides. Gently tap cake bite until excess chocolate slides off.

4. Set cake bite in a form block until chocolate firms. Use your white gel pen to draw the white laces of the football.

Makes 26-40

* Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
3¾ cups powdered sugar, sifted
3-4 Tablespoons milk or cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Place butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat until lightly and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer before adding the sugar or you will have a large mess to clean up.

2. Add sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat frosting, starting on slow and increasing your speed until frosting is nice and creamy. Add one Tablespoon of milk if frosting is too thick.

Get your own copy of 101 Gourmet Cake Bitesnow at Amazon for only about $13 (USD). Baker and author, Wendy Paul, offers more in the 101 Gourmet series — cupcakes and cookies.

If you’re interesting in getting more free recipes from Wendy Paul check out her website. You can also track Wendy on Twitter @ReasonToBake to keep on top of what’s fresh out of her oven.

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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Organic, Eco-Friendly Coffee at the Green Beanery Savings

August 11, 2011 By 25 Comments

If you’re local to Kirkland then you’ll want to try the Green Beanery. The Green Beanery is saving the earth one cup of coffee at a time. Serving up convenience, this drive thru coffee stand, located just off of 70th in the Bridal Trails shopping center, was built using leftover materials from other construction sites. How awesome is that?

Today only, you can save 5.00. Spend 5.00 and receive a voucher for 10.00

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Of course, that’s not the only thing that’s recycled and eco-friendly. Most of their hot and cold cups, straws and other items are compostable. Meanwhile, you’re drinking the best of USDA organic ingredients in their coffees, milks, creams, smoothies, syrups and biscotti. So if you want green coffee, green cups, green building materials, then the Green Beanery is the place to go. It’s a fantastic way to get your cup of jo and support the environment while you’re at it. 

And why not mix it up with one of their mochas – black or white – which uses delicious organic, homemade chocolate sauce. I had you at chocolate right? So don’t miss out on this deal for a delicious pick-me-up where you too are saving the earth one sip at a time.

Be sure to double check all details at Juice in the City.

Fine Print

Entire value must be used in one transaction. Excludes tax. Cannot be combined with any other discounts, promotions or offers. Must present JITC Deal Code to redeem. Limit one per person.

Voucher Instructions

Please print and present JITC Deal Code printout to redeem.

 

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