Fresh Baby has recently joined the USDA in a national strategic partnership that supports their mission of reducing childhood obesity by allowing us the opportunity to communicate the message of fresh and healthy eating to many more family nationwide.

As part of this new opportunity, Fresh Baby is acting together with the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) to help educate families on how they can build a healthier plate. Fresh Baby contacted me to ask - How Can You Build A Healthier Plate?  We were definitely up to the challenge!  I love to plan healthy and delicious meals for our family, and enjoyed using the grocery list.  Since we consume a lot of fruits and vegetables with our meals and in our morning fruit/veggie smoothie, those sections of the list filled in quickly.

You can learn more about building a healthier plate at www.choosemyplate.gov and www.freshbaby.com.


Even though I try to feed Lily healthy foods, it was nice to see the actual split of what I was giving her.  She has a tendency to prefer fresh vegetables over even kid-favorites like Mac & Cheese (I know, lucky me!!), so the plate reminded me to add some grains to her meal in the plate pictured below.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Dunkin' Donuts. I received a Dunkin' Donuts Party Kit to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.


I love to entertain at home and try to organize something at least every other month for our circle of friends or for my daughter Lily's little friends. Whether I am hosting a little or large gathering, I enjoy the planning, preparation and the socializing - especially the socializing!


The other weekend I hosted a Dunkin' Donuts "play date" for the kids and "mommy chat" for the ladies. What better excuse to catch up and chat with the moms in my circle than a coffee tasting party?  We are pretty big fans of Dunkin' Donuts coffee, so I was happy to get some of the new, delicious flavors to try.  I invited some of Lily's best little girlfriends and their moms for a play date at our house.  We had a small group of six little girls who quickly got busy entertaining themselves so the adults could chat.

I wanted to make sure the kids had an activity so Lily spent some time before the party sorting out beads by color to make into bead necklaces with her friends.  We used muffin tins to separate the colors.



I spread out the gift bags of delicious Dunkin' Donuts coffee, coupon, cup and tote bag on my coffee table to share with my girlfriends and also set up the three flavors next to my coffee maker.  We determined the Coconut was probably going to be the biggest hit with our friends and at home, too.  Everyone was surprised to hear about some of the new flavors and commented that they had not seen these in store before.  It was fun to share the goody bags and the new Dunkin Donuts coffee flavors!

I personally like to use a french press for brewing coffee even though it is less convenient - brings out the flavor.  We tried the Coconut below and it was a hit!  We were so busy chatting I didn't get many photos of the participants!


Below is also a great Iced Coffee recipe you can try!

Iced Coffee Recipe
Makes 4 servings

3/4 cup of your favorite Dunkin' Donuts coffee
3 cups cold water, divided
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup half-and-half
whipped cream (optional)

1. Brew coffee in coffee maker using 3/4 cup ground coffee and 1.5 cups water.
2. Combine hot brewed coffee, sugar and half-and-half in pitcher. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved. Blend in 1.5 cups water. Chill until ready to serve.
3. Pour over ice in tall glasses or cafe mugs. Top with whipped cream, if desired, and serve immediately.

We had the opportunity to try some HOT-N-READY pizza ourselves for this post. I was surprised how quickly the pizza was ready! We enjoyed a hot meal on a night when the fridge was near empty and the leftovers from my normal weekend cooking spree had run out.  I added the jalapeno cheese bread which wasn't too spicy for us but perfectly flavored.


Right now, Little Caesars is also hosting a special sweepstakes. ENTER!ENTER! For the chance to win FREE DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza for a year. DEEP!DEEP!-Stakes!
https://www.facebook.com/LittleCaesars/app_200480830075835

WIN IT
One of my US readers will win a $10 Little Caesars gift card. Lucky you! To enter, simply fill out the form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Thanks to Little Caesars for providing the gift card for review and giveaway.  All opinions are my own and yours may differ.

Hosting a giveaway? You can link it here to promote it! I try to visit everyone who links up since I LOVE giveaways! Please include blog name - prize - end date and link directly to your giveaway. My current giveaways are listed in the right sidebar. Please keep it family friendly or identify it as adult content.

Looking for more giveaways to enter? Check out my friends Dina at Just Another New Blog and Kristi at Moms Own Words! Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

Forget about yesterday, today is #FreshMade! Each day we have a choice, a choice to do the same old routine or do something unique and different.  What have you wanted to do for a long time? 2013 is almost halfway over and it’s time to do something new. It’s time to grow, it’s time to make your dreams a reality.

Chick-fil-A is helping you make today #FreshMade, by creating new menu options that you can feel good about! They are introducing 3 new premium salads and an improved wrap all under 430 calories made with premium ingredients.

WIN IT
One of my US readers will win a pack of 2 Chick-fil-A Salad Coupons. Lucky you! To enter, simply fill out the form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: Thanks to Chick-fil-A for providing the giveaway prize.  Chick-fil-A provided me with the blogger app and information and images for this post.

Do you have good sleeping habits? For the most part I “think” I do but there are many nights when I fall asleep on the couch in front of the TV with a work laptop in my lap. After a long day at work, my husband and I toss together dinner depending on who gets home first (usually him) and then go through the bedtime routine for our five year old. Once she is down for the count at around 8 o’clock, we start our own wind-down routine….generally a shower, then work or TV time (or both) in our bedroom sitting area. I’ve watched (or listened to, rather!) many movies before bed while cleaning out work or personal email. I know we definitely spend too much time on electronics before bed….and sadly, I generally fire up my laptop to check work email as I get dressed and do my makeup in the morning.

They say April showers bring May flowers – apply that same philosophy to your complexion with Bioré Steam Activated Cleanser. Harness the pore-opening power of shower steam for a deep clean with this exclusive formula, featuring SteamActiv™ beads. Watch as it dissolves dirt, oil, and make-up instantly and lifts them away for a rejuvenating clean.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Thanks to Biore for sponsoring this giveaway!

One of my favorite birthday presents that Lily got last year was a science kit.  We've worked through a variety of the experiments and the last one was a lot of fun!  We dissected an owl pellet (owl vomit, yay!!).  We got to lay out the bones and match them up with the corresponding animal.  Our own had evidently had a delicious rodent snack he digested them vomited.




Lily was concentrating hard!  What did you do this weekend?

So you stocked up at the beginning of the month, but are already running out of the products your family needs? You’re in luck!

From May 15th through May 22nd, look for the “Running Out? Run In.” event at Publix® to take advantage of great savings on some of your favorite brands from General Mills and Procter & Gamble, like Wheaties, Totino’s, Charmin and Crest. Plus, if you buy $30 of participating* items from 5/15 through 5/31, you can mail in to receive a $10 Publix® gift card to use on your next shopping trip! (For more details on this great rebate, please visit www.runningoutrunin.com)

*Participating products: Wheaties®, Cascadian Farm®, Honey Nut Cheerios® Medley Crunch and Total® Whole Grain Cereal (assorted varieties); Hamburger Helper® and Suddenly Salad® (assorted varieties); Totino’s® Party Pizza (assorted varieties); Totino’s® Pizza Rolls (40ct, assorted varieties); Yoplait® Light Yogurt with Granola (assorted varieties); Yoplait® Go-Gurt (8ct pkg 2.25oz, assorted varieties); Gain Laundry Detergent (100oz, assorted varieties); Dawn® Dish Detergent (20-24oz bottle, assorted varieties); Charmin® Basic Bathroom Tissue (12 double roll pkg, assorted varieties); Bounty® Dura Towel and Bounty® Paper Towels (1 King Roll, 1 Big Roll); Crest® Toothpaste (8.2 oz) + Oral-B Indicator & Complete Manual Brush (1ct) assorted varieties; Herbal Essences® (6.0 -10.7oz, assorted varieties) and Vidal Sassoon Shampoo/Conditioner (12oz, assorted varieties)


WIN IT
One of my US readers will win a $25 Publix gift card.  Lucky you!  To enter, simply fill out the form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: MyBlogSpark provided me with the information, photos and prize packs for this post.  All opinions are my own.

I saw this recipe on pinterest and had to try it.  It was a hit!  We like to have a hearty breakfast most mornings, and a cold bowl of cereal doesn't really do it for me.  Since they take about 25 minutes to bake, I cooked them the evening before and reheated in the morning.  My little sister says she freezes her egg cups and they reheat well in the microwave.

Get creative with your mix-ins!  Below are some ideas

4 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
dash of salt and pepper

Mix-in ideas:
diced bell peppers
chopped cooked bacon
sausage crumbles
green onions
shredded cheese
artichokes
corn
other chopped veggies

Whisk together eggs, milk and salt and pepper in a mixing cup you can easily pour from.

Preheat oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees.  I found the toaster oven worked really well!

I also used muffin liners for easier cleanup in a muffin tin of 6 muffins.  Fill muffin containers about half full, then add about 2 teaspoons of mix-ins into each and stir.



Bake your egg cups until they are puffy and the edges are a nice golden brown.  Mine baked for about 25 minutes.  Eat and enjoy or store for later!  What would you put in your egg cups?

Celebrity, Lisa Vanderpump, has teamed up with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! to show you how to have the most important meal of the day--after dark.

In partnership with I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, Lisa has created a series of “Breakfast After Dark” webisodes showing you how she keeps things hot in the kitchen with her hubby and the other men in her life, by enjoying her favorite breakfast foods for dinner. You can check out these saucy webisodes on the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! website or on the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Facebook and Twitter pages.

Pictured below are four of the delicious recipes and links to the details.  Yum!


Hearty Veggie Frittata


California Cauliflower Breakfast Pizza


Toasted Breakfast Burritos


Italian Skillet Eggs

These four dishes are easy to make and pair perfectly with cocktails! So go on and have breakfast for dinner because we all know only the BEST things happen after dark!

WIN IT
To celebrate Breakfast After Dark, one of my US readers will win a I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Breakfast After Dark kit! This kit will equip you with all things necessary to re-create a luxurious Lisa style meal. Please let us know if you’re interested in participating and we’ll be happy send along a kit which includes:

2 elegant champagne glasses
A fashionable mirrored serving tray
A sassy knit robe
A durable kitchen spatula
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter VIP coupon

To enter, simply fill out the form below.

h.h. gregg is one of the nation's leading and fastest growing retailers of home appliances and consumer electronics with over 220 locations. They are currently hosting a “Maytag You’re It” sweepstakes, where they’ll be giving away a Maytag laundry pair every day during the month of May. (Yes, that’s 31 washer and dryer pairs!)  Yay!  I think I'll be entering since I have an itch to replace my washer and dryer and re-do the whole laundry closet.

Wintertime comfort foods are a delicious treat on any day.  This recipe can be used for a larger chicken pot pie, or mini ones like the ones pictured below.

splash of olive oil
4-6 slices bacon, chopped
3 medium red potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small onion, finely diced
1 cup peas
1 pound carrots, diced
2 chicken boneless breasts, diced
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
refrigerated pie crust (I used Target's generic brand and cut to size)
1 tablespoon milk
1 egg white

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  Cook bacon and set aside to cool.  In a large pot, heat a splash of olive oil.  Toss in all the veggies and cook for 3-5 minutes until tender.  Move veggies to the side of the pot and add chicken.  Cook util cooked through, about 5-10 minutes.  Add salt and pepper, flour and mix together.  Pour in chicken stock and mix together.



In a small bowl, whisk together milk and egg whites to be used to brush over the pie dough.


Once your vegetable and chicken mixture is ready, fill a pie dish or individual ramekins and cover with pie crust.  Bake for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden.  Enjoy!

Most can agree... Moms are the best - and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day by giving mom the movie night she deserves! Watching a classic flick together is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family... tell them something that they never knew about Mom!

Announcing the Best of WB 100 Film Collection ($597.92 MSRP) and The Mother’s Day Movie Night Blog App!

WIN IT
One of my US readers will win the Best of WB 100 Film Collection ($597.97 MSRP).  The collection includes:  100 movies including all 22 of Warner Bros. Library’s Best Picture™ winners on 55 discs presented in book style premium packaging. Plus two all-new documentaries: Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot and The Warner Bros. Lot Tour. With hours of commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more on select films. Also includes a limited edition 27” x 40” poster, plus a postcard series of Warner Bros. movie posters designed by legendary Bill Gold.

To enter, simply fill out the form below.  If you'd like, paste your answers to the Perfect Mother's Day Fill-In-The-Blank in a comment on this post or leave a comment letting me know what you scored on the quiz in the app above!

DREAM MOTHER'S DAY FILL IN THE BLANKS:

I’m spending the morning relaxing while watching my all-time favorite musical ___________ (movie title). I remember watching it for the first time when I was ________ years old.

Of course, I can’t watch this movie without my favorite movie snack ___________ !

For lunch, my friends and I are taken to dine at ________________ (restaurant). Bouquets of _________ (flower) greet us on arrival.

On our way home, our car unexpectedly hits a time warp and we’re teleported back to the set of my favorite romance film!

I find myself playing the role of my favorite character ___________________ (character).

Suddenly, I’m hollywood’s next big star! I’m strutting down every red carpet and being invited to all the exclusive premieres... I’m even dating the cutest movie star __________ and our celebrity couple name is _________________.

Suddenly I wake up and find myself safely back in my bed. Looks like I must have dozed off and started dreaming!

Disclosure: The assets included within this message were delivered to me in promotion of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release of the Best of Warner Bros. Mother’s Day Movie Night App. Thanks to Warner Bros. for providing the giveaway prize!

I'm so excited to be starting another gardening season!  Last year my dad and husband built me a little raised bed that I've been playing around in.  Due to all the towering trees around us, I have to resort to shade-loving plants but it is still fun.

It is especially fun to check on it with my best helper!  Check out that ham.


This year I planted spring crops and shade-tolerant crops.  I included radishes, kale, spinach, two types of lettuce, some English peas, Georgia onions and herbs (basil, chives, dill and parsley).  The photo below is about 10 days old.  Making progress!



I also planted more peas up on our front steps in pots.  These are harvested before the Atlanta heat sets in and are fun to pick.


Since tomatoes were a flop last year, I bought a big 2 foot plant from Publix with large green tomatoes already on the vine.  We'll see how this guy does!



My other ambitions include re-doing the shady side of our driveway.  The variegated hydrangea will stay but the weeks must go.  I had beautiful 10 year old hostas growing here that some nasty voles ate to the quick so they barely came back.  I'm thinking some astilbes and maybe more hostas.


One of my other favorites in full bloom - the amaryllis   I have over a dozen pots of them that Adam drags into the garage every winter.  I even cross pollinated two varieties and grew bulbs some from seed.


Are you growing anything this spring?

I have seen homemade recipes for taco seasoning before, but it wasn't until I was making taco chili that called for a packet of taco seasoning and I realized - I'm all out!  I found a basic recipe on allrecipes.com and tweaked it to our tastes (less salt, more cumin).

How are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year? We love delicious Mexican foods and recipes at our house and try them out regularly due to my love for cooking. With two working parents and a school-aged child, we do not often sit down to a weekday meal together so I am excited that Cinco de Mayo falls on a Sunday this year! Since I love to cook and try new recipes, I wanted to share some with you all to give you some Cinco de Mayo inspiration!

We’ll be grilling up a storm of shrimp and chicken to use in tacos on Cinco de Mayo and to save for leftovers for the work week. I’ll definitely make a homemade fresh salsa and the mango tomatillo guacamole recipe below sounds like a winner!

Mango-Tomatillo Guacamole (Makes 2 cups) 2 ripe Hass avocados, halved, seeded, and peeled
2 tomatillos, husked and finely chopped
1 ripe mango, peeled, seeded, and cubed
½ small red onion, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, finely chopped (remove seeds before chopping for less heat)
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, chopped
1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
kosher salt
baked tortilla or pita chips, for serving

1. Mash the avocados in a medium bowl with a fork, leaving them still a bit chunky. Fold in the tomatillos, mango, onion, chile, cilantro, and mint. Add the lemon juice, and gently mix to evenly distribute the ingredients. Season with salt.

2. Lay a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to discourage discoloring, and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour. Serve with the chips for dipping.

To get the kids involved, use some of the printables below to decorate some fun balloons with your kiddo(s)!

Since we adopted her back in December, Kitty has become a integral member of our lives.  As I type, she's rolling around on the ground near me, trying to lure me from the computer.  She chases and bothers our old cat Kicia, who deeply despises this new addition.  If not for the latter, Kitty would be the perfect new pet...but nothing is perfect, and we love her anyway.  May Kicia come to tolerate her one day!

Here are a few shots of her from the other weekend.  Lily loves to snatch her up for a big cat-hug (much to Kitty's dismay)!

Post Cereal has recently partnered with the WWE and WWE Superstar John Cena to launch the Pebbles Mania Sweepstakes. Fans can participate in the sweepstakes by visiting www.PebblesMania.com to win the grand prize - tickets to WWE’s WrestleMania® 30 in 2014 and a private meet and greet with John Cena! All you need to enter is a unique code found on specially marked boxes of Pebbles cereal.

There are also instant-win prizes available including:

Disclosure: Thanks to the sponsor for providing the prize for giveaway.  I was not compensated for this post.