holiday Archives - MomStart

Quick & Easy Valentine’s Day Treats with Foodstirs Organic Baking Mixes

February 8, 2017 by Momstart 3 Comments

We received samples from Foodstirs to create this blog post and video.

So we were approached by Foodstirs and asked if we wanted to try out the Sprinkled with Love Organic Cupcake Kit. This new line is Michelle Gellar’s modern baking brand, called Foodstirs. Of course we said yes and instead of sending us that they sent us a box full of amazing items to try and Zoe went to town! First we made a video of us opening the box. Check that out here:

Foodstirs sent a variety of its baking mixes and new frosting (listed below) so we could make even more equally delicious sweet treats that make fun Valentine’s Day recipes like these Conversation Heart Cookies!

Like all Foodstirs products, these mixes are organic, GMO-free, chemical-free and never sacrifice ingredient integrity for taste.

Organic Sweet Tooth Sugar Cookie Mix – made with pure and sustainable Wholesome biodynamic cane sugar
Organic Vanilla Frosting Mix (new!) – preservative-free and so good you’ll be licking the bowl
Organic Chocolate Lovers Brownie Mix – made with ethically-sourced ingredients like Equal Exchange organic fair trade cocoa and chocolate

Zoe loves decorating and she wanted me to make a video of her decorating them but I was too tired yesterday. Now that I see how she did I wish I had taken the time to make a video of her decorating them. She’s so passionate. And if you want to know how she got the different colors we did get a red icing package at the store and she used that to make some color.

We loved all of the baking goods we received and my diet is suffering because of it. I can’t stop eating the brownies we made and they aren’t even pictured here because I ate them all so quickly. YUMMMMMM

So Happy Valentine’s Day from my little chef and we hope you try these products and enjoy them as much as we did.

Make Quick & Easy Valentine’s With Welch’s

February 8, 2017 by Momstart 18 Comments

We received samples from Welch’s to create this blog post and video.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Welch’s Fruit Snacks wants to spread the love by challenging you to craft the perfect Valentines in honor of their NEW Valentine’s Day-themed fruit snacks.

Whether you and your children create them for a classroom or just to hand out to the family, we want to show you how easy it is to make a cute little Valentine. All you have to do is write a name on the package of the Welch’s fruit snacks in the To: section and your name in the From: section.

Or you can go all out like Zoe likes to do. Just watch her video (which actually turned out to be a family affair)

She did a great job.

See how the fruit snacks have cute little faces on them.

I had to fight my kids to keep them from eating all of the fruit snacks before we even had a chance to make the Valentines. The kids love fruit snacks.

Top 20 Places for Celebrating Valentine’s Day

February 6, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Top 20 Places for Celebrating Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and America’s sweethearts planning to spend an average of $136.57 each on the occasion, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2017’s Best Places for Valentine’s Day along with entertaining stats about the holiday in its Valentine’s Day Fun Facts infographic.
To determine the most romantic yet affordable cities for celebrating the Day of Hearts, WalletHub’s number crunchers compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across 20 key metrics, ranging from “florists per capita” to “number of attractions” to “cost of a three-course meal for two.”

Source: WalletHub

Top 20 Places for Celebrating Valentine’s Day

1
San Francisco, CA
11
Tampa, FL

2
Scottsdale, AZ
12
Austin, TX

3
Orlando, FL
13
Irvine, CA

4
Honolulu, HI
14
Chandler, AZ

5
Seattle, WA
15
St. Louis, MO

6
Las Vegas, NV
16
Minneapolis, MN

7
Atlanta, GA
17
Henderson, NV

8
Portland, OR
18
Washington, DC

9
San Diego, CA
19
Plano, TX

10
Denver, CO
20
Colorado Springs, CO

To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-valentines-day/10056/

Sparkly Chocolate Chex Mix Recipe

February 1, 2017 by Momstart 2 Comments

You could be looking for a quick and easy game day dessert, or something sparkly for a holiday party. This Sparkly Chocolate Chex Mix could be right up your alley. It’s right up ours!

Sparkly Chocolate Chex Mix

Ingredients:
2 Cups Chocolate Chex Mix
½ Cup Mini Pretzel Rods
8 Ounces Dark Cocoa Melting Chips
Gold Edible Glitter

Directions:

Place your Chex and pretzels in a medium sized bowl and mix with hands.

Melt your chips in a small microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring in between each one until chocolate is smooth and not lumpy.

Using a fork or spoon, scoop up chocolate and drizzle over the top of the Chex and pretzel mixture. Do this over the top layer and then give it a couple of minutes to dry.

Using your hands, mix up mixture again to bring a new layer to the top and repeat step 3 until a majority of the mixture has been drizzled with chocolate.

End by drizzling more chocolate over the last layer and immediately, while it’s still wet, sprinkle generously with gold edible glitter.

Tips to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day #MLKDay

January 15, 2017 by Momstart Leave a Comment

We are re-sharing this information because we feel that it’s really important to celebrate Martin Luther King Day. My kids and I will be walking over to a memorial in DC in his honor and going to a museum. These five tips come from YouGiveGood’s President and CEO Lisa Tomasi.

1) Organize your workplace, school or community group. Maximize your impact by organizing a group to serve the community with an activity done at your own location in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Choose a local charity and determine the best way for your group to show support. Ideas include packing snack bags for after school programs, collecting coats and hats for a homeless shelter, planting trees, creating a mentoring program, or writing letters of support to our military abroad.

2) Teach your children. The kids are home from school. Remember, as a Day of Service MLK day is supposed to be “a day on, not a day off.” Plan an activity of service and involve your children. Show by your example that volunteerism is important to your family and help to cultivate a new generation of compassionate, community- minded citizens.

3) Raise needed goods. Support a local charity with a drive for the goods they need to serve the community. An online YouGiveGoods drive is the new way to raise food and supplies for charity. You can set up your drive in a matter of minutes and have it underway in time for MLK Day this year. Then invite your online community via email and social media to support your cause by purchasing items that will ship to your selected charity. A YouGiveGoods drive builds up your community as it offers tangible aid to local charity and it provides a welcome opportunity for your friends and family to be part of this year’s MLK Day.

4) Spread the message. Use social media (use hashtag #MLKDay) to share MLK’s ideals and inspiring words. You will find his words to be stunningly timely and relevant in today’s world. Forward this page, talk about what you will do in honor of MLK Day, and encourage your circle of friends to take action to support the community.

5) Commit to service in 2017. Use Martin Luther King’s example to plan a 2017 where you take action. If you are unable to volunteer on January 16, simply spend some time researching, choose your charity, make that phone call and find out how you can best serve them in the future. Charities need help all year long!

Red Glittery Peanut Butter Balls Recipe AKA Buckeyes

January 10, 2017 by Momstart 4 Comments

A while back, our writer Summer made some peanut butter balls and they were one of our most all time popular post. We’re super proud of her peanut butter balls and decided we wanted to share a slightly different recipe and geared towards Valentine’s Day.

Red Glittery Peanut Butter Balls Recipe AKA Buckeyes

Ingredients:

· ½ Cup Peanut Butter

· 1/8 Cup Butter

· ½ Teaspoon Vanilla

· ¾ Cup Powdered Sugar

· 8 Ounces Dark Cocoa Melting Chips

Directions:

1. Soften both your peanut butter and your butter in a large bowl and then mix well.

2. Combine the rest of the ingredients except the melting chips and mix well.

3. Roll mixture into about 1 inch balls and place on wax paper.

4. Melt your chocolate in a normal sized bowl such as a soup bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals and stir in between until the chocolate is nice and smooth.

5. Dip balls into melted chocolate and scoop out with a fork. Tap on the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate and place back on the wax paper.

6. Place in fridge for about 5 minutes and enjoy!

Yum

Red Glittery Peanut Butter Balls Recipe AKA Buckeyes

Ingredients

½ Cup Peanut Butter
1/8 Cup Butter
½ Teaspoon Vanilla
¾ Cup Powdered Sugar
8 Ounces Dark Cocoa Melting Chips

Instructions

Soften both your peanut butter and your butter in a large bowl and then mix well.
Combine the rest of the ingredients except the melting chips and mix well.
Roll mixture into about 1 inch balls and place on wax paper.
Melt your chocolate in a normal sized bowl such as a soup bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals and stir in between until the chocolate is nice and smooth.
Dip balls into melted chocolate and scoop out with a fork. Tap on the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate and place back on the wax paper.
Place in fridge for about 5 minutes and enjoy!

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Red Hot Candy Apples Recipe

January 9, 2017 by Momstart 1 Comment

It’s been over five years since we first shared this recipe here on MomStart. So we wanted to bring it back, and it’s perfect timing with Valentine’s Day around the corner.

Red Hot Candy Apples Recipe

Ingredients:

8 small Apples
Popsicle sticks or Skewers
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 teaspoons red food coloring
1/2 cup red hot candies
1 cup water

Directions:

In a deep sauce pan heat over medium heat, sugar, red hot candies, water, light corn syrup until boiling.

Using a candy thermometer without touching the bottom of the pan continue cooking without stirring until the mixture reaches 290 Degrees F.

While you are waiting

Grease a coking sheet

Insert sticks into the apples

When the sugar syrup is ready, remove the pan from the heat and remove the thermometer.

Swirl each apple in the hot cinnamon-candy syrup to coat evenly. Lift out the apples and swirl over the saucepan for a few more seconds to catch the drips.

Place the candy apples on the cookie sheet.

Cool at least 1 hour.

Yum

Red Hot Candy Apples Recipe

Ingredients

8 small Apples
Popsicle sticks or Skewers
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 teaspoons red food coloring
1/2 cup red hot candies
1 cup water

Instructions

In a deep sauce pan heat over medium heat, sugar, red hot candies, water, light corn syrup until boiling.
Using a candy thermometer without touching the bottom of the pan continue cooking without stirring until the mixture reaches 290 Degrees F.
While you are waiting
Grease a coking sheet
Insert sticks into the apples
When the sugar syrup is ready, remove the pan from the heat and remove the thermometer.
Swirl each apple in the hot cinnamon-candy syrup to coat evenly. Lift out the apples and swirl over the saucepan for a few more seconds to catch the drips.
Place the candy apples on the cookie sheet.
Cool at least 1 hour.

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New Monster High Toys From Mattel

December 4, 2016 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Monster High, Mattel’s popular brand of fashion dolls, has unveiled some new toys and holiday favorites this year that are sure to be on many girls wish lists. Monster High brings to life the sons and daughters of the world’s most famous monsters like Frankie Stein™, daughter of Frankenstein, Draculaura™, a descendant of Dracula and their ghoulfriends. My daughter is all too familiar with Monster High as she watches tons of it on Netflix. I’ve probably seen plenty of it myself but the only episode I remember is the episode with Draculaura, and you’re probably going to laugh at me and say she’s in a ton of the movies. I would ask my daughter but I’m on a plane on my way to a press trip.

Mattel’s Monster High sent us two of their most popular toys this holiday to review. Zoe and I did a few videos. She did an overview video of the two toys, The Monster High Two Headed Styling Head and the Monster High™ Welcome To Monster High™ Dance the Fright Away .

We Did a box opening of the Dance the Fright Away playset and she put the set together.

And we did a video of what all came in the box for the Monster High Two Headed Styling Head.

She really wanted to keep the Two Headed Styling Head but I know some little girls that need a really good Christmas this year so we’re going to send it off to them. They will love it too!!!

Monster High™ Two Headed Styling Head (New this Fall)

Monster High™ Welcome To Monster High™ Dance the Fright Away Playset (New This Fall)

I think this playset is really cool because it’s like a rocking stage and she can take photos of the doll with the stand. She can also put the set together mostly herself. There was something she was a little confused about that you can see in the video.

Mattel also released:

Monster High® Ghoul-To-Bat Transformation Draculaura® Doll (New This Fall)

Draculaura™ Doll Transforms from Ghoul to Bat

Let your imagination take flight with Monster High™ Ghoul-to-Bat Draculaura™ doll, the gore-geous daughter of Dracula! This Monster High ghoul transforms from teen student to boo-tiful bat to expand the storytelling fun. Switch from girl to bat and back with ease. Both looks are to-die-for, and the possibilities for monster fun are monsterrific!

What’s in the box?

Features

Draculaura™ doll who can transform from a teen ghoul to a vampire bat in an instant — and over and over again!
Simply pull down the lever on Draculaura™ teen doll’s bodice to see her shimmery pink overskirt unfold into body-sized wings!
Use the same fashion lever to return to a “regular” ghoul.
Shimmery pink on the outside and decorated with a bat and heart print on the inside, the giant bat wings help stories take flight.
As a ghoul, Draculaura™ doll has a pink bodice with white ruffles and a black bow tie, a pink skirt with heart print and gathered overskirt.
Transformed into a bat, her bodice is opened to reveal a lace-up corset in pink, blue and black with bat details.
Pink shoes are fangtastic with either look.
Recreate favorite stories or tell new tales with this uhh-mazing doll.

Monster High™ Minis (A perfect stocking stuffer!)

PRODUCT FEATURES

The Monster High™ mini collectible figures are monster cute – so cute, you’ll want to collect them all!
And with three mini figures in each pack – one of which is exclusive and found nowhere else – your collection instantly grows!
Each small figure is recognizable through signature styles, iconic elements and monsterrific details.
Unique outfits are clawesome and dramatic hairstyles flawesome! Plus, a mix of themes within each three-pack of Monster High™ mini figures means you can build your collection in all sorts of ways.
This set includes an exclusive Getting Ghostly™ Draculaura™ mini figure, a Circus Ghouls Venus McFlytrap™ mini figure and an Original Ghouls Toralei™ mini figure.
Look for other favorite characters, themes and scary cute exclusives.
Focus on building a character collection, a mix of themes or collect them all!
Includes three Monster High™ mini figures.

Marshmallow Bats Recipe

October 11, 2016 by Momstart 7 Comments

It’s October so it’s time to make cute and fun Halloween treats. I’m quite excited by these really cute and easy to make Halloween Bats.

Marshmallow Bats Recipe

Ingredients:

· Square Marshmallows

· Black Food Coloring

· Black Gel Frosting

· White Melting Chocolate

· Candy Eyes

Directions:

1. Begin by cutting the top of each marshmallow off. About a ¼ of an inch.

2. Next, on the other end, cut a small chunk out of each corner so the wings become apparent.

3. Place on a wooden skewer and trim the stick if need be.

4. Melt your chocolate however you desire. I used the microwave which only takes a few seconds. Follow the directions on your package.

5. Add 4-5 drops black food coloring to the melted chocolate and do this quickly.

6. Begin spooning the chocolate over each marshmallow, one at a time.

7. Place on a pan covered in wax paper.

8. Immediately place eyes on each bat before the chocolate melts.

9. Allow to cool thoroughly.

10. Once cool, use the gel frosting to draw fangs.

Top Trending Toys For Christmas

December 1, 2015 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Here are some cool trending toys and we agree whole heartedly. We even personally tested three of them. These toys range from not just play but to cutting-edge tech, classic role-play fun. We had fun with the Redwood Venture’s IDO3D Art Studio, Stikbot Studio from Zing and Pinblock. My kids have been building amazing things with Pinblock, fun videos with Stikbot and creatures with IDO3D.

Here is our list of Trending Toys!

Cutting edge tech trending on social media:

Stikbot Studio from Zing – is a new social media toy with a free app that lets kids easily create awesome stop-motion videos starring the neon Stikbot figures. Using the #Stikbot hashtag, kids can share their videos on social media.

Stikbot is really cool because it keeps the kids busy for a while. It takes so many photos to do one video.

Stocking stuffers featuring must-have fashion fun and El Nino prep:

HipFits – the absolute must-have to clip on to backpacks, gym bags and more! It’s the hip clip-on accessory that gives girls the chance to get in on the hot trend of personalizing accessories that’s making headlines on the pages of People StyleWatch, Vogue and more. Great ornament for the tree, too!

With El Nino on its way to deliver a rainy holiday, ShedRain’s Wind Pro Auto-Open/Auto-Close umbrella is the stocking stuffer must-have of the season.

Classic role-play fun – made in the USA:

American Plastic Toys features Cozy Comforts Kitchen – a true holiday gifting classic: this kid-sized kitchen features the latest in kitchen design including a single-cup coffee machine, a smartphone, recycling bins and more – all for just $35.

Creative Play:

Redwood Venture’s IDO3D Art Studio sets use technology to bring amazing artwork to life! These specially crafted drawing pens contain 3D printing ink that magically transforms liquid into solid in just seconds. Use the pen to draw numerous designs, either from their own imagination or from the 3D Guidebook included with the set.

IDO3D is majorly trending on Youtube. My daughter made a video and her Youtube account is really new. It has 1300 views on it. I’ve seen that other people’s videos have even more video on them. It’s crazy fun to do.

All Pinblock sets have one piece that can twist, turn, stack or lay flat, allowing for non-stop 3D building. The unique pixel-like round connecting pins allow for building planes, buildings, utilities, wearable gadgets and more!