Ambasador Archives

The Microsoft Band #FallFitness

November 1, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

This past week I went to the launch event at the Microsoft store in Bellevue. It was quite a busy event. Of course looking back I realized that I was there during the lunch hour and during that hour I was told they sold out. There were two lines that were from the desk to the door and they were starting to wrap around the store. IT WAS INSANE. But a lot of fun, I lifted weights,

my children played Xbox One

and we learned about the Microsoft Band

About Microsoft Band:

· Microsoft Band, the first device powered by Microsoft Health, helps you achieve your wellness goals by tracking your heart rate, steps, calorie burn, and sleep quality. It also helps you be more productive with email previews and calendar alerts – right on your wrist.

· Available now for just $199, the device works across iPhone, Android, and Windows Phones.

· Email previews and calendar alerts appear right on your wrist so you know what you have to do and where you have to be even on the go.

· For customers using Windows Phone 8.1, ask Cortana to take notes or set reminders with your voice. She’ll give you driving directions and keep you on top of traffic, sports, stocks, weather, and more. She is ready to help whenever you need it.

About Microsoft Health:

· Microsoft Health is a cloud-based service that helps you live healthier by providing actionable insights based on data gathered from the fitness devices and apps that you use every day.

· Activity-tracking devices like the new Microsoft Band, smart watches, and mobile phones plus services like RunKeeper or MyFitnessPal connect easily to Microsoft Health.

· Using this fitness data and the Intelligence Engine in the cloud, Microsoft Health provides valuable, personal insights so you can reach your fitness goals.

What’s Coming Out of Denny’s Diners HQ & Test Kitchen #DennysDiners

September 19, 2014 by Momstart 12 Comments

I had a great time at #DennysDiners HQ and Test Kitchen. They know how to cook and make delicious treats all year around. Did you know that they actually make changes to the menu every quarter and some of those changes include Holiday Features? YUM too. And sadly that’s all I can tell you about what’s coming up for this Holiday Season, It’s Good! SO keep an eye out for the new menu in October.

But rest assured there are still some really great items that you might not know are on the menu right now. I tried them when I was invited to the Denny’s Diners HQ and Test Kitchen last month with my other ambassador friends.

I have to say that I think I must have been living under a rock because I had no idea that Denny’s was making these delicious things called pancake puppies. I had some while I was in SC with Denny’s and vow that next time I take my family there I’m ordering some as an appetizer for the whole family to enjoy. It’s like having donuts they are so good.

And I also tried The New Chicken Salad Sandwich and I loved it. I was really trying to only take a few bites out of everything because we were trying so many items on the menu, this I wanted to finish. It’s roasted seasoned chicken, celery, red grapes, toasted almonds and mayo. You can have it served with your choice of wavy-cut French fries, hash browns, seasonal fruit or dippable veggies.

Another item I can share with you is the Wild Caught Salmon and it was surprisingly really good. Fish is a tricky thing to cook and have the flavors come out and Denny’s accomplished it. Look at it, doesn’t it just make you want to dig right in?

I did finish the salmon!

Want to know what I learned about the brand?

Denny’s really wants to make their customers happy and remember that they are more than just a after 2:00 AM place to eat. They are an all day diner fit for families with a very versatile menu. They have a rewards program and kids eat free. For every 1 adult meal two kids can eat free on Tuesday’s from 4PM to 10PM. They understand the importance of children’s health by offering healthy options and are part of Kids Live Well AND as you know they support No Kids Hungry a charity I’m very fond of.

They also have a rewards program, a birthday grand slam, and special discounts for seniors. So plan a trip to Denny’s and try their menu, see their specials and go often so you don’t miss any of the changes that might pop up. You’ll love what’s coming for the holidays!

Eggs Teflon And Stuffed French Toast Recipe And $150 Giveaway

May 22, 2014 by Momstart 76 Comments

I’m a Teflon Ambassador receive products and compensation for my time my opinions are my own.

As you saw before I wrote a post about how I don’t want to spend all my time in the kitchen cleaning. I want to have that time to spend with my family, using non-stick products is an easy way to save that time in the kitchen. So I’m a big fan of Teflon nonstick coating on pans. This month Teflon has challenged me to take on eggs because it is National Egg Month. To test out the non-stick power of Teflon I received the the Farberware Premium Professional Dishwasher Safe 12 Piece Cookware Set with Teflon® nonstick coating valued at $150. (We’ll be giving one away too). You have even more chances to win the cookware set on Facebook.

The National Egg Month Sweepstakes is hosted on its own tab on Teflon®’s Facebook page through May 31 so you still have time to enter. You can go to the tab and sign up to win daily prizes and if you refer friends, you’ll be entered to win a weekly grand prize (links to prizes below). Included as part of the tab is a fun quiz titled “What does your egg say about you?” What you do is select your favorite type of egg and find out what your “egg personality.” is. For example, someone who chooses scrambled has a busy, but social lifestyle. There are daily and weekly prizes.

Daily Prizes (will alternate between these two products):

· Farberware Nonstick Aluminum Triple Pack Skillets

· Farberware Premium Professional Dishwasher Safe 11" Square Griddle

Weekly Grand Prize:

· Farberware Premium Professional Dishwasher Safe 12 Piece Cookware Set

Taking on Eggs, I boiled some, I scrambled some and I made French Toast all using my cookware set.

The filling is made of bananas, pecans, and nutmeg.

Stuffed Banana Pecan French Toast Buns Recipe

Ingredients:

6 eggs
1/4 cup milk
4 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup pecans
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
8 slices bread
4 tablespoons butter

Directions:

In a large shallow bowl beat the eggs until frothy. Stir in the milk and set aside

Peel the bananas and mash in a small bowl stir in the pecans and nutmeg

Spread the banana mixture in between the hotdog buns, press the bun together gently

Place the filled buns in the egg mixture let soak and then flip coating all sides for a few seconds

Cook on the griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Make sure to cook all sides. By cooking all sides you won’t have any raw egg and it seals in the mixture.

Use remaining banana mixture for dip or drizzle.

Be sure to follow Teflon® brand’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for more exciting news from the brand.

Enter to Win:

The cookware set valued at 150

To Enter:

Tell me what you like to make with eggs

Extra Entries:

Use the rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Truvia Natural Sweetener Apple Basil Punch Recipe #HealthierHolidays

November 22, 2013 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I love being a Truvia Ambassador and am compensated for my time, but mostly I like them because using Truvia Natural Sweetener lowers the calories in all things I enjoy during the holidays. Here is a drink recipe I found on the Truvia Recipe site.

Apple Basil Punch

Ingredients

11⁄2 oz. rye whiskey
1⁄2 oz. lime
1 oz. apple juice
1⁄2 oz. Truvía^® Simple Syrup*
3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
2 basil leaves
*or 2 packets Truvía^® natural sweetener or 11⁄2 tsp Truvía^® natural sweetener spoonable

Directions

In a cocktail shaker add all the ingredients together and fill halfway with ice. Shake vigorously.
Double-strain into glass filled with ice and garnish.

Garnish: Basil and lime twist

*This cocktail has 120 calories and 4 grams of sugar per serving compared to 155 calories and 13 grams of sugar per serving in the full-sugar version.

To participate in the Healthier Holidays Sweepstakes, head to the Truvia® Sweepstakes Page at www.facebook.com/truvia, and “like” the Truvia Facebook page to enter for a chance to win Truvia® prizes. You’ll also have the option to “Pin” any of your favorite Truvia® holiday baking recipes with #healthierholidays!

You can pin your favorite Truvia® Baking Blend recipe, while also entering your info to receive a $1.50 off coupon and be instantly entered to win a Truvia® #HealthierHolidays Baking Kit.

Check out more recipes from apple crisp, pumpkin pie, gingerbread men, to red velvet cupcakes, and more!

Over 10 Uses of Holland House Cooking Wine #HollandHouse

May 31, 2013 by Momstart 1 Comment

This post is compensated as part of being an ambassador for Mizkan.

I’ve found that I’m starting to just throw my recipes together and I love using cooking wine. Cooking win has so many uses and I’ve created this post to share with you all the different ways you can use Holland House Cooking Wine. There are so many benefits of having it on hand and the bold flavor it brings to the simplest of meals and key events.

It’s so easy to …Create a marinade:

cooking wine helps tenderize the meat allowing the other herbs and flavors to penetrate whatever is being marinated.

In creating light cream sauces:

The flavors thicken when you use wine in the sauce and wine won’t curdle or separate. If you use it in a glaze it enhances the flavor of the food as it cooks.

When Poaching Fruit like pears:

Fruits like apples and pears can be poached in wine with sugar and spices, like a stick of cinnamon. When the fruit is tender, remove them from the poaching liquid and boil the liquid until it becomes syrupy. Fruit poached in white cooking wine will keep its own color; fruit poached in red cooking wine will turn red, which can be particularly beautiful when poaching pears.

When reducing glazes and Deglazing

Deglazing is when you use a liquid like cooking wine to cook off the residue on a pan left behind from cooking and then using that flavor to make a sauce

As a Steaming liquid

Just think of the flavor you will have in veggies, cherrystone clams or mussels when you steam them in wine

Final touch of flavor to finished dishes:

As I’m finishing a spaghetti or chili recipe I’ve often doused the sauce with some red cooking wine. I love using cooking wine in a sauce. A splash of white wine to fish as it’s wrapped in parchment paper adds moisture and tang. A drizzle of sherry to consommé or gazpacho or red pepper sauce adds complexity. White wine on just cooked potatoes makes the perfect foundation for a classic French potato salad.

Other Uses:

Braising and stewing

seafood soups, bouillabaisse

Keeping chicken moist

Deserts like apple strudel

Creating trifles

Making lemon custard

Cooking risotto

Check out the Holland House Facebook page for more information about the Holland House. Like the NAKANO Facebook page for more information on the Nakano products and make a splash of your own. I’m a Mizkan ambassador.

Sears Presents People’s Pick Your Own Sale

November 12, 2011 by Momstart 11 Comments

Everyone loves a good sale right, I know I do and right now I need a new dress, a glamorous dress to wear to the red carpet premier of War Horse in New York City with Stephen Spielberg. Ok, I’ll be lucky if I even get to meet him, but he will be there and I’ll be there and I’m going to see his amazing interpretation of the play War Horse. So I need the perfect dress because this is big. But not just any dress will do and it has to be the right price.

So if I could pick the dress I want and have it go on sale just in time for my event I would feel like I won the lottery. Well that’s kind of the idea behind Sears People’s Pick. Sears will have a list of popular items for us to vote what goes on sale next.

Everything is listed in a category, so the first thing you do is pick a category. Then you vote for what you want to go on sale. You can vote for products in the categories every Sunday through Tuesday. The categories are for him, Techie, Kids, Chef, Entertainer, Her, Teens, Trendsetters, Sports Fan, and DIY-er. So go pick your People’s Pick tomorrow, which happens to be Sunday in the category that meets your needs. Then the winning items will have incredible limited-time savings online and in stores nationwide.

Monica Woo, Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer at Sears says that, "The Sears People’s Pick feature allows our customer to win—by getting the most value for their money on the products they want." So it’s all about getting what you want this Holiday Season at a great value. I’m hoping that tomorrow when the voting starts they have some really fancy dresses or other fabulous shoes to vote on in the Trendsetters or Her category that I can purchase for my upcoming red carpet premiere of War Horse in New York December 4th.

I have been compensated to work with Sears over the next few weeks, but I’ve shopped at Sears for so many years, and will continue to shop there. My opinion is not swayed by compensation.