>U Mom Knows Best: 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

I caught Santa.com

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when a child receives a photo of Santa caught in the act in his or her very own home. iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos.

In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself. 
enter: SANTA50 and get your entire order for 1/2 price! Feel free to share as you wish.


Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

My Oral-B/Crest Pro-Health FOR ME party.

 I had a great opportunity to host a party with Mommy Parties,Crest andOralB. They sent me lots of goodies to go with my party. In my host box there was toothpaste,toothbrushes,flossers,rinses,vitamin gummies,and a Cars2 movie. My kids were excited to invite over their friends for a movie night.
 The gift bags were ready to give out.
 The little ones enjoyed playing the games while the older ones helped them out.
 The containers were waiting for the popcorn to finish popping.
Here is the kids enjoying the Cars2 movie. It was a fun night watching the movie and learning about toothcare. Thanks Crest,OralB,and Mommy Parties for providing great things for my party.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Sonfish Gear


Once again, the holidays are in full swing! Last minute shopping, out-of-town visitors, holiday parties and church functions are just a few of the things that keep us busy during this time of year. As if being a Mom and blogger doesn't take up enough of our time! On top of that, there is that 2012 church or group fundraiser you have to plan! And for that reason, we are happy to announce the launch of http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=tvj4cobab&et=1108962281381&s=46201&e=0014BcaUnPST4W662Ty3NjDoILtJoSi_kCCaBrtBSGfsruA_cj7YEXbYoFdW2y8l0MMT08_SMYsvFT8iqcNMTFxZZ20_zK1mD5lcilPgzU6aGkVlEPQCL2VEQ==, an online Christian apparel and accessory store.

As a mom, church member or community organizer, we know that you may be looking for fundraising opportunities. Sonfish Gear is proud to offer a unique fundraising program which allows groups to purchase products at wholesale prices and resell for fundraising. This is an exciting way to switch it up from the usual church car wash and bake sale, to offering a variety of quality Christian apparel and accessory products. To find out more about Sonfish Gear's fundraising opportunities, click HERE!

In early 2012, Sonfish Gear products will also be available for individual purchase! From hats and sunglasses, to iPhone cases and baby clothes, Sonfish gear has something for everyone on your 2012 gift giving list. If you need a last minute holidays gift idea, the classic Sonfish Car emblem is immediately available for purchase and would make a great stocking stuffer this year! The Sonfish emblem reminds Christians that Jesus, the Son of God, is always shining his love upon us. To check out Sonfish Gear click HERE!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

My new chairs

Our kitchen chairs had been worn out for  a long time and I finally got motivated to fix them. I went to Joanns fabric store and bought some fabric  for 20.00 and a staple gun at Lowes for 20.00. I then gave my wonderful husband the job of puting the new fabric on the chairs. For 10.00 a chair I have new looking chairs. I saved money by fixing the chairs instead of buying new ones. My motto if it can be fixed try that first.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Extra® 120-Day Get Fit Giveaway

With all the opportunity for indulgence during the holiday season, it can be hard to stay in a healthy mindset. Although we shouldn't resist treating ourselves to some of our favorite seasonal confections, it's important to indulge wisely so we don't find ourselves in damage-control mode on January 1st! Extra® Gum knows that maintaining a fit lifestyle takes a little more willpower during this sugar-laden season, which is why they've launched their 120-Day Get Fit Giveaway!

Throughout the holiday season and as New Years' resolutions approach, Extra Dessert Delights® gum is the perfect ammo to have on hand as an easy alternative to high calorie snacks, and now they're offering even more ways to bring everyone a little more support during these crucial times. With the 120-Day Get Fit Giveaway, fitness buffs and gum chewers alike can enter once a day to win unique fitness-focused prizes that will help keep your New Years' resolutions on track. From now until March 29th, 2012, you can visit http://www.extragum.com/ for daily prize giveaways and the chance to win the Grand Prize- a fitness adventure trip to Red Mountain Resort in Utah. Prizes change daily, so entrants should be sure to check back each day to see what the fun new prize will be.

"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place."

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Purex Laundry Detergent

I was sent a sample of Purex Triple Action laundry detergent from Purex Insiders to use. Today was laundry so I used the Purex Triple Action in my machine. I love that the detergent is good for all machines so HE machines users dont have to buy different costly detergents. The triple action stands for bright,white, and clean for its purpose. The scent was mountain breeze. The scent was wonderful when I took the clothes out of the washer. My clothes came out very clean after washing also. I love using Purex for laundry for many reasons. The most important one is cost,as Purex does a great job of washing for a reasonable price. Why pay for those expensive brands when Purex does just as well. I also love the various scents Purex makes,it makes laundry day more enjoyable. I have been a Purex user for a long time as I love the way my clothes look and smell. I also love the price of Purex.  For more information on Purex Triple Action go to www.Purex.com/TripleAction I love this laundry detergent !

"Purex provided a free sample of their Triple Action laundry detergent so I could write a reveiw. All of the opinions expressed are my own."

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Smurfs

We rented the Smurf movie tonight and really enjoyed watching it. Everyone was laughing a lot during the movie. The older folks sang along with the songs and the younger ones were amazed they knew the words. Everyone was into watching the movie.
This was a good family movie,from young to old. There was nothing offensive or bad language,which is a plus for me.

Aliens

My family and I went to Roswell,New Mexico the other day to check out a college for my son. Roswell New Mexico is known for the so called Alien encounter in 1947. Our visit would not be complete without checking out the ufo museum. The museum was very informative about the ufo crash,it left you thinking about wheather or not a ufo really happened. There was plenty of newspaper articles to read along with pictures. My little ones enjoyed the spaceship with smoke comming out of it.
They also liked the realistic aliens.

My family and I enjoyed the museum. I left the place wondering what had really happened back in 1947 and why was the goverment trying to cover up.

We also had a great time at the hotel swimming and relaxing in front of the tv.  So if you get a chance to go to Roswell, New Mexico check out the Ufo museum.  I got those cool green glasses, worn by my son, at the museum as they have a cool gift shop there.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Karo Syrup Facebook Contest


Holiday presents don't need to be store bought or expensive to be meaningful. Homemade gifts are perfect for gift-giving and spreading holiday cheer. This year, Karo has partnered with Chicago pastry chef and cookbook author Sarah Levy to create delicious treats that are the perfect gift to give this holiday season.

Karo Syrup wants to celebrate all holiday baking recipes! Consumers who share their favorite recipe to bake in Karo's Recipe Sweepstakes are entered to win a special New Year's Eve package in Chicago, including a two-night stay at the Wit Hotel, dinner at Mastro's Steakhouse and a chocolate tour. Visit  the "Tis the Season" tab at www.Facebook.com/KaroSyrup to share your recipe, enter to win this fabulous trip and see some of Sarah Levy's favorite holiday recipes. So what are you wating for enter your recipe now and you might just win.

"Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Karo Syrup prize package in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place. All opinions are my own."

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Torani Syrup Giveaway

I was given a opportunity to sample Torani syrup through She Speaks and Torani. These syrups are wonderful to add flavor to coffee,tea and even cold drinks. There are over 100 flavors available like caramel and peach. Go to http://www.torani.com/ for a full list. I sampled the peppermint syrup and made wonderful peppermint mochas with it with coffee and chocolate syrup.
I have one coupon for a free bottle that I will giveaway
.
1.To enter just follow me with the GFC(google friend connect)button and leave a comment with your email that you did.

2. For an additional entry follow me on twitter-see top right of blog and comment with your email that you did.

Contest ends December 16 2011

I will choose a winner with http://www.random.org/ 
I will contact winner by email with 48 hours of giveaway for address to mail coupon.
 Winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The giveaway is over an the winner is comment # 5 Janejoey57. I will be emailing you for your address.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011


I recieved a coupon from Bzzgent to try new Private Selection frozen food. When I went to the store there was choices like chocolate crossiants and cream puffs. I chose to buy the cream puffs and they looked wonderful. When I got home I open the box and was surprised that the cream puffs came in a resealable serving container. I thawed out the cream puffs on the counter top for thirty minutes. I then took a bite and they were wonderful with a smooth chocolate coating and a creamy custard inside.
So if you love cream puffs but not the work involved to make to make them,these are wonderful. They even taste better then my frieds homemade cream puffs.
You cn find Private Selection frozen food at Smiths and other Kroger stoes.
These opinions are my own as I recieved a coupon from Bzzagent to try the product.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Fyrflyz

I recently had an opportunity to promote a new toy call Fyrflyz. I was sent the toy to play with outside Toys R Us on Thanksgiving as the crowds waited for the doors to open. My son and I arrived at 8:00 PM that night and there was a line going around the building with eager shoppers. I started at the begining of the line to show how Fyrflyz works. The first person in line was a friend from church. She told me she arrived at the store at 4:30 PM and the line started forming at 5:30 PM,so shoppers had been there for quite some time and were in need of entertainment. My son played with the Fyrflyz as I talked to the crowds andhanded out info. This is a great toy to entertain all ages. I have five children ages 3,5,12,17, and 21 and they all enjoyed the toy. The Fyrflyz is like a glow in the dark yoyo that makes cool shapes as it spins. My teenager son thought this toy would be great at dances.
As I entertained the crowd,one person told me they saw the Fyrflyz on tv. Most have never heard of the toy,so I told them how it makes a great present for under 10.00.  One lady I demostated the Fyrflyz to was in line and needed ideas for her 11 year old son,so of course I told her to get the Fyrflyz. It was a fun night for my son and I to play with Fyrflyz. You can buy the Fyrflyz at Toy S Us of course.

The opinions are my own and recieved  the free product as part of a promotional program with Fyrflyz and MomSelect .

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Black Friday Fyrflyz Fun Campaign

I selected through Momselect in a cool campaign. I get to go play with a Fyrflyz toy on black Friday and get paid,how fun is that. I will be outside Toys r Us playing with the cool toy and showing people in line how the toy works. My fun job will be to persude people to buy a Fyrflyz toy once the store opens.  So instead of shoppping with crowds,I will be entertaing them. I can't wait!

I will received the free product as part of a promotional program with Fyrflyz and MomSelect.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Torani peppermint mochas

I help make the coffee at my church and was thrilled to be given a oppoortunity to sample Torani syrups with She Speaks. I thought what a great product to put on our coffee table for our members. I recieved the peppermint flavor from Torani and thought of peppermint mocha drinks. That Sunday I placed the peppermint Torani on the coffee table next to a bottle of creamer and chocolate syrup. I also made a card with the amounts to put in the coffee to make the peppermint mochas.
I wanted to respect members and vistors privacy,so I did not take pictures of any people. I stood by the coffee table and had fun watching people make drinks. Our church loves coffee and we drink about six carafes every Sunday. The members also love different flavors in their coffee and we offer several flavors of creamers on the table. The Torani peppermint was perfect for the season as those high price coffee places offer peppermint drinks right now.  The church members loved having peppermint mochas available to drink and were amazed at how easy they were to make with the Torani syrup. My recipe was one cup of coffee, two pumps regular creamer,two squirts chocolate syrup, and two pumps Torani peppermint syrup.  This made a wonderful peppermint mocha and tasted like those over priced drinks you can buy, but mine was much cheaper.
I love that Torani offers over 120 different flavors to make drinks taste great. Drinks like coffee,tea, and even soda will "sing" with Torani syrup in it. I cant wait for summer to try the fruit flavors in my ice tea. Go to Torani.com for a full list. Here in Albuquerque,New Mexico you can purchase Torani at Cost Plus World Market for the best selection. Walmart,Smiths,and Sunflower market sell a couple of flavors.
 Disclaimer: I received the above products at no cost from SheSpeaks.com and Torani per my review….but my review is honest and my opinions are my own. I did not receive any other monetary or product compensation for this review.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Peppermint Mochas

Hey Cottonwood church people! I got in on a wonderful blog opportunity with Torani and She Speaks. They sent me some syrups to review and I will be bringing the pepermint one to church tomorrow along with some chocolate syrup. You will have the chance to create peppermint mochas at the coffee table. You could also try some in tea, for the tea drinkers. After church come back to my blog and let me know how you liked the product. I would also love for you to follow my blog so I can get in more great opportunities like this.  Just click on Join this Site on the right of my page.
Join this site

Friday, November 11, 2011

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Labor of Love

I love pumpkin and decided to cook a pumpkin. That is where the labor came in,as I did not realize what was in store for me. I cut up the pumpkin into pieces and scraped out all the seeds and gunk. Then I cooked the pieces in a pot of boiling water. That took a while as the pumpkin was quite big. After that I peeled away the skin and pureed the pumpkin. I then made some of the pumpkin puree into a wonderful soup in which I put cheese and toasted walnuts on top. I also toasted the walnuts. The rest of the puree went in bags to be frozen for pies. After about 3 hours I had 4 bags of pumpkin puree for pies and 4 bags of soup for one.


I also had a messy kitchen that I had to clean.

Next time I will buy the can pumpkin. Some things are not worth the work.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Hellmanns turkey challange


Now it's turkey's turn.

With the holidays right around the corner, Hellmann's® is continuing their mission against mealtime monotony by encouraging moms to re-think their main dish meals and leftovers. And this time, they've enlisted the help of an expert on all things food, Chef Bobby Flay! Together, they are offering easy, delicious recipes, such as Turkey Casserole, that are great for the busy holiday season.

Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle to join the Hellmann's® Turkey Challenge each week at Hellmanns.com* as Turkey Casserole goes head-to-head with other tasty, juicy turkey recipes, like Bobby Flay's "Stuffing" Crusted Turkey Cutlet. All you have to do is cast your vote for your favorite to be entered into the sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four $250 grocery gift cards each week.** If there are more than 10,000 entries, the prize value doubles to a $500 grocery gift card

Go to Hellmanns.com to vote and enter the sweepstakes

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Hellmann's® prize package in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place."

Monday, November 7, 2011

Target

Today was Targets 90% off  holloween sale day. What a lot of fun it was. This are the items I was able to find. I was also able to get the two little ones costumes. One choose a airplane and the other Star wars. So if you want costumes for next year now is the time to go to Target. The sale ends tomorrow.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Smile.ly360

A great site to check out.
http://smiley360.com/9217.cfm

Pam

Check out this link to learn more about Pam and print a coupon.
http://smiley360.com/200635.cfm

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Torani


I got a wonderful surprise today from She Speaks. They sent me two Torani flavored syrups to try. I received peppermint and salted caramel along with a recipe book. I had to make a latte with the salted caramel as it sounded wonderful. I added the salted caramel Torani sryup to my coffee with milk. I then added the same syrup to my milk frother and put that on top of my coffee.  My little one tasted the froth and enjoyed it.
I will be bring the peppermint Torani syrup to my church on November 13th to put out on the coffee bar. People will be able to sample the Torani with their coffee and make wonderful drinks like peppermint mochas. For the tea drinkers,they can make peppermint tea.

Torani makes 122 different flavors of syrups like chocolate,peanutbutter,caramel,and fruit flavors. There is even bacon flavor. Everyone will find their favorite to make wonderful drinks and desserts. For a complete list go to http://www.torani.com/home/products

Monday, October 31, 2011

My holloween party snack

I brought these wonderful Kashi TLC dark chocolate bars to a holloween party I went to with a bunch of moms at the park. The bowl was overflowing when I brought them and people loved them. Moms were happy to give them to their kids as a healthy snack. Kids thought they were eating cookies. I forgot my camera so I did not get pictures at the park.  Thanks to Moms Meet for providing a wonderful healthy snack.

Monday, October 17, 2011

HEXBUG Nano Halloween

\ I was selected to do a party with Mommy parties and Nano Hexbugs. The above picture(I borrowed from Facebook as my child tore into the stuff and boxes were not saved)shows everything that was sent to me. My 11 year old was already having a birthday party so this was a great opportunity to share at the party. My son had a great time setting up the bug maze. He was able to set up the glow in the dark maze in many different combinations. He enjoyed getting the stuff ready for his friends. His brothers enjoyed helping too. The friends had a blast with the Hexbugs and loved taking home bugs. This Hex bug set is a cool toy. You put this battery operated bugs on the maze that you build. The bugs move around the maze and provide entertainment for all ages. The set also glows in the dark. The little brothers loved turning off the lights for that part. The Hex bugs come in many differnt colors and styles. The halloween bugs came in cute little coffins. The day after the party,the set is still keeping my son and his friends entertained. Our house will be the cool house for a while.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Mickey Bandaids


I recieved some cute Mickey Mouse BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages from Smiley360 today in the mail to try. Well,I had the perfect opportunity to try them as I cut my finger yesterday fixing my little boys dresser. How did I do that well,I took a diaper wipe to wipe the crazy glue off the hair cutting scissors I was using. They were sharp as I sliced my finger. So I took off my boring plain bandaid and put on a Mickey Mouse BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages. My finger feels better with the cute designs on it. Why should kids have all the fun. If you would like to get some of these cute bandages go to
http://smiley360.com/196103.cfm
Hurry before they are gone as this is a must for all your cuts.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

These cookies helped raise money.


I made these cookies for a church fundraiser the other night and everybody loved them. Our church had a pasta dinner,dessert auction, and a silent auction to raise money for an orphanage in Hati. When these cookies came up for auction,the winning bid was 40.00. The person who bought them shared the cookies and everyone asked for the recipe. They could not believe in came off the package of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels. The cookies have a wonderful taste of dark chocolate and mint that melt in your mouth. Thanks Nestle for providing me with a great product and recipe to raise money for Hati. Guess which cookies I will bring to my next cookie exchange. I even brought packages of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels to church the next day to share so others could make the cookies.


Mint Chocolate Delights

Prep:15 minsCooking:11 minsCooling:15 minsYields:48 cookies This delicious chocolate and mint cookie is sure to become a family favorite.Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels
.Directions
PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

COMBINE flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by well-rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 11 to 13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Torani Authentic Coffeehouse Flavor Program with She Speaks


I am so excited,I got in a cool program with Torani and She Speaks. I am going to recieve bottles of Torani flavored syrup to sample. These are flavored syrups to make your coffee taste better. Torani makes over 80 flavors like salted caramel and peppermint. I will be bringing some to church in November to taste with our coffee. I will post pictures when I receive my box.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The blender has retired


After 7 long weeks of working long hours,the blender can go back in the cabinet. This is a blessing for our family. Seven weeks ago my son Dillon broke his jaw while riding his bike. He broke in in three places and his mouth was wired shut. Those past 7 weeks he has been on a liquid diet using the blender to make milkshakes and cream soup. One time he even burned out the motor trying to puree oreos into his shake. My son Dillon is now on a soft food diet and in 12 days he will be free of all wires in his mouth. I am happy to say goodbye to my blender and so is Dillon. He is counting down the days to eat a hamburger and pizza.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

My Cerra moment with She Speaks







I recieved samples of teas,sensory oils,dissolving notes,and a journal to test from Cerra.com. I choose a raining day to try the products out. I first brewed a cup of the Creative energy tea to start my moment. The tea had a nice taste of citrus. I then wrote words like stress and kids on my dissolving notes. when I put them in the water they dissolved slowly,as if taking the stress away. I then put on the Creative energy sensory oil,which smelled of citrus notes. I then turned to the journal to give me ideas to ponder on. The journal also had a lot of room to write my thoughts.
I found these products to be great for quiet time to help me relieve stress of the day.
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Mom knows best