2011 December — MomStart

Shrek The Halls ICE at Gaylord Palms Kissimmee Florida

December 19, 2011 By Momstart 11 Comments

Christmas in Florida is a nice balmy 80 degrees more or less, and I’m quite happy with that kind of weather so I love visiting Florida in the winter time. But if you’re a Kissimmee native and in need of some cooler weather you can find it inside the Gaylord Palms ICE exhibit

Christmas at Gaylord Palms is super cold I wanted out as soon as I got in, but I hate being cold and 9 degrees is cold. So bundle up, bring gloves and wear your coat.

They do provide parkas but you might want even more, I did. Inside the ICE exhibit is Shrek The Halls, where you’ll see 4.5 acres of carved ice Shrek sculptures.

As you enter the exhibit you can watch a quick introduction and informational video on where ICE came from. I found it fascinating that ICE is over 10 years old and that the blocks of ice are colored. I would have thought that lights gave the colored effect but nope, the ice is dyed and carved and pieced together to make such a fun exhibit.

My kids, Zoe and Miles both would have loved this exhibit. They wouldn’t have felt cold at all. Kids are so much more weather resistant than us sappy adults. Ok, I was the only pansy in the group. Everyone else made it all the way through!

I forgot to mention that you also get to watch the Shrek The Halls short before you enter the ICE exhibit and there are slides for everyone to go down inside the exhibit. I didn’t go down the slide because I was worried about getting my butt wet on the ice. I didn’t want to get any colder than I already was.

I was amazed at the talent displayed in the exhibit.

And for the final portion was the manger scene made out of white ice. It was beautiful

Ice at Gaylord Palms lasts until January 2.

All travel and expenses were paid for by Global Resort Homes And Kissimmee CVB.

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: Christmas, FL, Florida, Gaylord Palms, ICE, ICE Exhibit, Kissimmee, review, Shreck The Halls, travel

A Day of Seattle Friends Family and Even Better Santa Photos

December 19, 2011 By Momstart 8 Comments

You know I’ve been traveling a lot and while I was gone last weekend the kids went with daddy to get Santa photos. I was happy they were busy but sad that I missed their very first experience with Santa Claus at the mall. So when Jenny Ingram invited me out with a few other bloggers for a day out in Seattle with Macy’s I said yes, just so I could take the kids to visit Santa Claus too.

Miles handled Santa much better this time, they had quite a long conversation that I wish I could have heard. You see, Miles has been telling everyone that the only thing he wants for Christmas is candy, and I think Santa was telling him that he’s not going to give him just candy. But I couldn’t hear well enough to know for sure and I couldn’t get a straight answer out of Miles either. Sigh! Anyway, the photos turned out really well, even better than the ones we took the week before.

After the kids’ photos with Santa the moms had to get one too. Lucky Santa right?

Then we had coffee and a snack at Seattle’s Best and a ride on the carousel. (front from left) Alli from No Time for Flashcards, Marie from Make and Takes, me, Lyndsey from The Stationery Place, (back from left) Tammy from Tammy’s Two Cents, Jenny from Jenny On The Spot, Kat from Mama’s Losin It, and Mandy from The Haps.

After the ride on the carousel we had a while to talk chat and just be moms with toddlers running amok in downtown Seattle.

I’m kidding well partially kidding. We all have very well behaved children, but we couldn’t control the strange people in the streets of Seattle.

Thanks to Jenny and Macy’s for covering our fun family and friend day in Seattle.

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: Macy's, Santa Photos

Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

December 19, 2011 By Momstart 12 Comments

Getting my kids to eat veggies is easy, getting my husband to eat veggies not so much. I never would have considered making him butternut squash macaroni & cheese. He’s been looking at recipe books and magazines and finding new and interesting recipes to try. While looking at the Cooking Light magazine he found this butternut squash macaroni and cheese recipe and asked me to cook it for him. He ate it, He didn’t love it, but he ate it even as left overs. I did modify it to our tastes.

It was a little more work than regular mac and cheese but much healthier. We cooked the squash.

Cooked the noodles

blended it all in the blender

and cooked it in the oven.

Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:

3 cups butternut squash
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 cups fat-free milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 lb pasta

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375
Combine the squash, broth, milk in a medium sauce pan.
Bring to a boil over medium heat
Reduce heat to medium and simmer until the squash is tender (about 25 minutes)
Remove from heat
Place the hot squash in a blender
Add the salt and pepper
Remove the center piece of the lid to let the steam out
Secure the lid
Place a towel over the whole to keep it from spilling and blend until smooth
Combine the squash mixture with the cheese
Cook pasta according to directions on the box
Spread into a 13 x 9 coking dish
Bake for 25 minutes

Filed Under: recipe Tagged With: butternut squash, butternut squash recipe, macaroni and cheese, recipe

Ford’s Top 10 Safe Winter Driving Do’s and Don’ts

December 19, 2011 By Momstart 3 Comments

With the holidays coming up it’s important to remember to drive extra safely. You might be in your right mind but it doesn’t mean that all the other drivers on the road are. DON’T lose track of how many eggnogs you consumed at the holiday party. The most important holiday safe driving tip of all is to refrain from drinking and driving under all circumstances. If you think you will drink, arrange for alternate transportation ahead of time. Ford has announced a Top 10 list of Winter Safety Driving Tips to help you stay safe and count down to the New Year!

10. DO allow a few minutes to brush and scrape your vehicle. Clearing windows is crucial for visibility and removing snow or ice from the top of your car will spare cars behind you from encountering an unexpected snow assault, impairing visibility or even cracking a windshield.

DON’T forget to clean snow and ice off your headlights and taillights as well.

9. DO use winterized windshield wiper fluid to make sure your wiper sprayer doesn’t freeze over or crack, preventing you from washing away dirt and salt.

DON’T try to melt ice from your windshield by pouring hot water on it. Using hot water can crack the windshield.

8. DO wash your car regularly to remove salt and dirt from the roadways.

DON’T let road grime prematurely age the body of your vehicle by neglecting to bathe it.

7. DO maintain at least half a tank of gas to prevent unnecessarily stranding yourself in adverse conditions. To help get the most out of your tank, Ford offers fuel-saving technologies such as its EcoBoost® engines, electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and hybrid electric vehicles.

DON’T forget to check that all fluids are at proper levels and ensure all tires, including the spare, have the required pressure and tread.

6. DO prepare your car for an emergency. Essential items to keep in the trunk are a blanket to stay warm, proper attire (boots, jacket, hat and gloves) in case you have to be outside for an extended period of time, a shovel, flashlight with fresh batteries and snacks. Keep your cell phone charged to call help if necessary.

DON’T forget the kitty litter or sand, which can be used to provide added traction if your car becomes stuck in the snow.

5. DO remain aware of what’s around you on the road, including checking your blind spots and keeping an eye out for pedestrians or lost reindeer from Santa’s sleigh.

DON’T follow too closely. The general rule is the vehicle ahead should pass a road marker two seconds before you. In slippery conditions, it is recommended to double the amount of space between you and the vehicle in front.

4. DO apply even pressure when braking in slick conditions if your vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes. Keep in mind anti-lock brakes do not shorten stopping distance, but they do help you maintain control.

DON’T become overconfident in snowy and slippery road conditions. Always test road conditions with cautious driving when the surface area is wet or icy, particularly on bridges and overpasses.

3. DO turn the steering wheel in the direction of the slide when driving on snowy or icy roads until you gain control.

DON’T apply power or change directions suddenly on snow or ice.

2. DO stay calm if you find yourself stuck in the snow or broken down on the side of the road in adverse conditions.

DON’T leave your car unless available shelter is close by. If you need to run the engine to stay warm, make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow so the interior stays clear of harmful carbon monoxide.

1. DO make sure you are awake and alert behind the wheel. If necessary, take a break and grab a coffee.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: driving safety tips, Ford, winter driving tips

War Horse Movie Review & Exclusive War Horse Clip Featuring Emily Watson & Jeremy Irvine

December 19, 2011 By Momstart 7 Comments

With a cast line up of Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Peter Mullan, Niels Arestrup, Tom Hiddleston, Jeremy Irvine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Kebbell, and the amazing director Steven Spielberg, War Horse turned out to be a beautiful masterpiece.

Up until watching the movie I thought this movie was going to be completely about the war and how this horse fit into the war. The war seems like a back story to me, yeah, there is a war and it was quite a devastating war with so much bloodshed. The gentleman’s war was gone. I’m not usually a fan of war movies but I really enjoyed the emotional journey that War Horse took me on. I laughed, I cried and I thought OMG is this really going to happen. But nothing was too much. Steven Spielberg managed to go from one scene to another without showing you the gun shots. You knew they happened but you didn’t have to see it. In one scene two young boys were shot for desertion, but a windmill was turning and when they were shot the windmill blocked the action and when the windmill passed again you saw them dead on the ground. We also missed the birth of Joey. We saw from Albert’s eye, as Joey was being born he watched from behind a fence and you could tell when it happened by his sudden reaction.

War Horse is based on the Broadway production where the story is told from the horses perspective and the movie started out without words. Just music and pictures of the land and Joey. Joey was a smart horse. Albert’s dad bought Joey at an auction when he was supposed to be looking for a pulling horse. Joey was not meant for work. Albert’s dad spent too much money and it ended up where everything that family owned now rested on Joey’s ability to learn how to plow a field. Joey did it and there was hope for the family again, but then the crop was washed out by rain and they had to sell the horse to keep their house. Albert was furiously depressed to find out his father sold his horse and ran to town to beg for his horse to be returned. A war officer bought him and promised that if he could he would return Joey to him one day.

Joey touched so many lives in his four year journey during the war. He was on the English side in the beginning with the first soldier that bought him, then when the German soldiers killed all the English soldiers with machine guns Joey became a German work horse. He pulled carts and was used by the two boys I mentioned above to escape the war. They were killed on a French families’ farm and a little girl fell in love with him. The Germans came back across their land and took the Joey away from her. There he became a war horse again. This time he was used to drag those huge artillery guns. Horses died daily doing this job. It was really hard to watch. The horses were so badly mistreated. Joe escaped and then found himself in the middle of a battle field and he got caught up in the barbed wire. Ohhhh, it was another scene that was very hard to watch. Guess who joined the war, Albert did. Albert was also very brave and never gave up on finding his horse. But Albert was injured and I want you to find out how the rest of the movie goes by getting yourself to the theater to watch it.

Although some of the scenes in the movie were hard to watch, the filmography was creative, well placed and made the movie amazing. I really liked watching War Horse and can’t wait to see it again with my husband.

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: Emily Watson, Movie review, review, War Horse

What to Expect When You’re Expecting… THE MOVIE!

December 18, 2011 By Momstart 24 Comments

By: Ashley

Do you remember awhile back I went on some secret mission in Atlanta? Well, I can FINALLY tell you what it was for!

There is an amazing movie coming out based on the international bestseller with the same title. The cast of What to Expect When You’re Expecting alone will blow you away: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Ben Falcone and Joe Manganiello. See? Pretty impressive, right? You may wonder how such an information filled text can become a comedy. Well, if you know anything about pregnancy, people, or life in general, the transition is actual pretty natural! The movie follows the lives of several different couples (including reality TV stars, food truck rivals, and an older man with a “trophy wife”) through the trials, challenges, triumphs and smiles that happen as you welcome a child into the world. This star-studded cast makes this film a heartwarming comedy that is universally funny and touching all at the same time. Just watching the trailer (which has recently been released – YAY!) cracks me up!

Look for more coming soon to MomStart about What to Expect When You’re Expecting (coming to theatres in 2012).

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: Lionsgate, review, The Movie, What To Expect When You're Expecting

A Splenda Apple Pie Recipe

December 17, 2011 By Momstart 10 Comments

Holiday Traditions are a bit harder for someone that has an allergy or diabetes. My mom has had diabetes her whole life and she has quite the sweet tooth just like I do. But she had to learn how to eat something different. While everyone else was eating Pumpkin Pie or Pecan Pie she would always bring her own pie to eat. And it was still quite delicious. My Mom would make a sugar free Apple Pie.

Sugar Free Apple Pie Recipe

Find other recipes at DiabeticConnect.com

Ingredients

2 Crust, pie, ready to bake, 10"
7 cup peeled apple slices (baking apples)
1 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, granulated (Splenda) (Before Splenda my mom would use Sweet N Low but I can’t remember how much, I know it wasn’t a whole cup)
3 tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Set 1 pie crust into a pie plate.

Place apples in a large bowl. Combine in a small bowl Splenda, cornstarch, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture over apples and toss to coat. Spoon apple mixture into pie crust.

Place second crust over filling. Seal edges, trim and flute. Make small openings in crust to release steam. Bake until top crust is golden, approximately 40 to 50 minutes.

**Using Splenda Granular will cut down the carbohydrates in this recipe without sacrificing taste.**

Remember Diabetic Connect for any other needs you might have. DiabeticConnect has plenty of resources, articles and help for those with diabetes.

Filed Under: recipe Tagged With: apple pie recipe, recipe, Splenda, sugar free

Don’t Forget Here’s To Mom From MasterCard

December 17, 2011 By Momstart 3 Comments

If you were smart you signed up your MasterCard for rewards the first time I posted about the Here’s To Mom rewards program with MasterCard, but if you’re more like me you probably haven’t’ done it yet. I always need reminders. Lots and lots of reminders so here I am to remind you.

MasterCard wants moms to relax and take time for themselves by saving time shopping on-line. To help encourage you to shop on-line you MasterCard will reward you for on-line purchases. All you have to do is register your MasterCard at Here’s To Mom. Then whenever you spend $200.00 online you’ll then be rewarded with a $20.00 Gift Card from MasterCard. You have from now until December 31st, 2011.

Participating is easy. I’m doing it right now from the couch. I have some last minute Christmas shopping to do. I still haven’t finished shopping for my husband and after spending an hour in Wal-Mart this morning I’m in no mood to go out to any other store. I’ve been looking at different retail sites on-line and found what I want to get him at the right price. I mean, that’s just another benefit of shopping on-line you can find the lowest price and and coupon code from the myriad of coupon sites out there. So shop online, save money, and earn some bonus bucks from MasterCard.

I am being compensated to work with MasterCard This Holiday Season.

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: Here's To mom, MasterCard, rewards program

My BFF (best friend forever) Doll Is Fabulous! Review

December 17, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

By Emily,

I’ve been looking for an extra special doll for my oldest daughter. One that’s a step up from her plastic baby dolls and one she might keep forever, perhaps pass on down to her daughter one day. Thanks to My BFF Dolls, and the wonderful opportunity to review their new line of dolls, I think I may have found that special doll. My BFF Dolls are extra special because they are a fun line of create-your-own dolls that you and your child design together. From the creators of MyTwinn Dolls, My BFF (best friend forever) doll, gives girls the opportunity to become virtual “doll makers,” right at their own computer. The process is quite simple too:

1. Log onto www.MyBFFDoll.com and click “Start” to begin designing your own doll.

2. Create! Customizable features include: six face shape options, four skin tone options, nine eye color options, 12 hair style options, 5 hair color options, the option of adding earrings and eyeglasses and 10 clothing options.

The design step was so much fun for both my daughter and I. We enjoyed mixing up the features and creating a few different dolls. Finally, my daughter chose a doll that was most similar to her, short blonde hair, blue eyes and selected a sweet pink tee and jeans. Oh, and sunglasses, a girl can’t forget those accessories! You also get to pick out a name so we named our doll Clare, which is my daughter’s middle name.

3. If you need to, you can save your doll to complete it later as well as share your completed images with friends and family.

4.When you’re ready, place your order! Because My BFF dolls are hand-crafted one doll at a time, it takes about 2 – 3 weeks to arrive, but believe me, the wait is well worth it!

Two weeks after placing our order, the My BFF doll arrived in a carefully packaged box. This is, with all honesty, the most stunning doll I’ve ever seen. My husband was quite impressed as well! It’s not just all the wonderful hand painted details and quality materials that I adore, but the uniqueness of this doll and the fact that is was designed with love by my daughter and I.

The first feature that caught my attention was her eyes! They truly sparkle and have the most amazing lashes. Her hair, which is super soft and shiny, is also thick and easy to manage. I know that sounds like a shampoo commercial, but it’s the truth, the materials are high quality and I have no fear that it will last many rounds of hair salon play with my daughter.

Included with our package was a Doll Care Guide that provides cleaning and care tips. If there is an unfortunate event and your doll needs repair, there is also a Doll Hospital Admissions Form with various services you can select and their prices. These services include: Doll Makeovers, Heirloom Restoration, replacing eyelashes, new hair (just in case there is that accidental hair cutting episode) and you can even get your doll’s ears pierced.

My BFF dolls are 23 inches tall and can stand on their own. Each doll features 18 joints along the body and can pose in hundreds of positions. My BFF Dolls are compatible with My Twinn clothing and accessories for optimal playtime fun. Each doll retails for $149 and more information, including special bonus offers, can be found at www.myBFFDoll.com or www.mytwinn.com.

I heart our new BFF Doll!

Disclosure – This 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 Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, loves wine and enjoys dining out. She would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety she has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years, just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: Doll review, My Best Friend Forever Doll, MYBFF Doll, toy review

The Help 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack Review

December 17, 2011 By Momstart 5 Comments

I read The Help over a rainy Seattle weekend back in November of 2010. I had a hard time putting the book down as it was so well written and filled me with a wide range of emotion. When I heard that that the movie would be out in the summer of 2011, I was eager for its release. Unfortunately, I never did get the opportunity to see it in the theater. Since becoming a mom, the only movies I tend to see in the theater are rated G and in 3D. So when I was given the opportunity to review the 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack of the The Help, I was thrilled! And my anticipation was not in vain as this was a great movie, true to the book and performed by some amazing actors.

If you’re not familiar with The Help here’s a synopsis:

The #1 New York Times bestseller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the powerful
performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast. The Help is an inspirational, courageous and empowering
story about very different, extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project — one that breaks society’s rules and puts them all at risk. Filled with poignancy, humor and hope — and complete with compelling, never-before-seen bonus features — The Help is a timeless, universal and triumphant story about the ability to create change.

The Help stars Emma Stone as the courageous Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, who goes against the beliefs of
her family and friends to find her own voice. The critically praised, emotional performance of Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark, a woman who secretly dreams of one day having more than she has been given, offers a deep emotional storyline. The breakthrough performance of Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson, whose sass and tough exterior disguise the pain and fear she faces every day, brings both drama and humor to the film. Bryce Dallas Howard breathes life into the catty Jackson socialite Hilly Holbrook and Jessica Chastain brings charm and humor as Celia Foote, a kind housewife living outside of town who longs to fit in. Sissy Spacek, Allison Janney and Ahna O‟Reilly also provide vivacious performances that round out this all-star female ensemble.

On December 6th, 2011 The Help was released on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, Digital Download and On-Demand. I love owning a Blu-ray DVD player, not just for the superior sound and image quality, but also since most Blu-ray movies come with tons of extras. I received The Help 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pak which includes the Blu-ray disc and a regular DVD disc that I can put in my car, portable DVD player or just lend to my Blu-ray deprived friends. There is also a 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pak available that has a downloadable copy of the movie.

Both the 3-Disc and 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Packs include a number of bonus features that are well worth checking out. They include:

The Making of “The Help:” From Friendship To Film Find out more about the friendship between director and screenplay writer Tate Taylor and author Kathryn Stockett and the process it took to bring this story to the big screen. Commentary from the crew and actors on the making of the film is also included which is always an entertaining way to learn more about their time on set.

In Their Own Words: A Tribute To The Maids Of Mississippi An informative look at the women who worked as maids and provides a deeper understanding of the relationships that form between maids and their employers as well as the children they care for.

Also included are deleted scenes (my favorite!) and a music video, “The Living Proof” from nine-time Grammy Award®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter, Mary J. Blige.

The Help can be found just in time for the holidays in these formats:
3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) = $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada
2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
For Fans of The Help movie:
“Like” the Help Facebook page
Follow The Help Movie on Twitter
Visit the website and mobile site:

About Emily:

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: dreamworks, Movie review, The Help

Shrek The Halls ICE at Gaylord Palms Kissimmee Florida

A Day of Seattle Friends Family and Even Better Santa Photos

Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Ford’s Top 10 Safe Winter Driving Do’s and Don’ts

War Horse Movie Review & Exclusive War Horse Clip Featuring Emily Watson & Jeremy Irvine

What to Expect When You’re Expecting… THE MOVIE!

A Splenda Apple Pie Recipe

Sugar Free Apple Pie Recipe

Ingredients

Don’t Forget Here’s To Mom From MasterCard

My BFF (best friend forever) Doll Is Fabulous! Review

The Help 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack Review

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