Mom Reviews

Christmas Party Creative Chex Mix Recipes – WIN!

December 19, 2011 by Jennifer 11 Comments

Looking for a delicious treat that will have the entire crowd raving and wanting more? Chex Mix has super delicious and creative recipes this holiday season. I created my first batches over Thanksgiving weekend and have been making a batch each week. Everyone that I have gave a box too is in love and goes home to make their own batch to share. It is like a domino effect this Christmas season.

The first batch I made was the Chex PB and Chocolate Blast.

Ingredients:

6 cups Rice Chex® cereal
1 cup white vanilla baking chips (8 oz)
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 cup red and green candy-coated chocolate candies
1 cup dry-roasted peanuts

Directions:

1. Line 2 cookie sheets with foil or waxed paper. Place 3 cups cereal in large bowl. In small microwavable bowl, microwave white vanilla baking chips uncovered on High about 1 minute or until chips can be stirred smooth. Pour melted chips over cereal in bowl; stir to evenly coat. Spread mixture in single layer on one of the cookie sheets. Refrigerate 5 minutes or until set.

2. Repeat the above using the remaining cereal and the peanut butter chips; refrigerate 5 minutes or until set.

3. Gently break up coated cereal into large bowl. Add candy and peanuts; stir gently to combine. Store in airtight container.

The next batch was the Chex Muddy Buddies. I have been making this particular recipe for a few years now and it is always a request every Christmas season from the family. Now the extended family and friends are asking for it!

Ingredients:

9 cups Rice Chex®, Corn Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.

2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.

3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

All the boxes were filled and sent home with all my guests over Thanksgiving weekend.

As you can see from expressions on their faces, they were delighted with both batches.

WIN! Create your own fun with Chex Mix Recipes.

One lucky fan will win their own Chex Mix prize pack.

2 boxes of Chex cereal to create Chex Party Mix recipes
5 featured Chex Party Mix recipes
10 takeout containers so your guests can take their Chex Party Mix to-go
$20 gift card to purchase recipe ingredients and decorating supplies

Enter:

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Birthday party fun with Abba Dance Party

December 19, 2011 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

We had a fun weekend of partying for our precious M. I am not sure how she is already nine years old. I will admit, I shed a few tears this weekend. It is so bittersweet to see M growing into such a young lady. We did have so much fun celebrating her big day though with an Abba Dance Party.

Our living room floor was literally transformed right before our eyes to a dance floor. M invited her sweet friends and for 3 hours, all the friends had the best time dancing to the beat of 70’s music. Who said we couldn’t bring back the 70’s here at the end of 2011? I have proof that we did and it was a blast.

We had twists, we had turns as the girls danced to the beat of the music. I seen so many smiles and so much laughter.

The girls were having so much fun that it was hard to break them away from the game to scoop up some birthday, but we eventually did have chow time. After all, we had a birthday song to sing to a special M.

No dance party is complete without a kids punch served. The punch was a huge hit and was gone very fast.

The food hit the spot and it was time to hit the dance floor once again. All the girls were eager to get back on the dance floor and see what moves they could perform.

The older kids could not sit back any longer. It was time for them to step onto the dance floor and break down some great 70’s moves.

This Wii Game was so instrumental in bringing back a decade into today’s generation. The game is such good clean and friendly fun as you can see all ages were having fun breaking down on the dance floor. The creators of Just Dance put their expertise together and came up with ABBA You can Dance so as you can imagine, you will not be let down. The game is averaging 4.5 stars on Amazon.com. Go ahead and grab your copy today and prepare to dance, laugh and create so many fun memories.

This will be a birthday party that M will remember for a very long time!

Disclosure: Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

Last minute Christmas gift idea for her – Lands End Wool Down Vest

December 15, 2011 by Jennifer 2 Comments

How can we be 10 days till Christmas? Is anyone else running around like a crazy person trying to get everything done? I am finally done with exams at school so that is one big thing behind me and now I am trying to finish shopping and just enjoy the moment of the Christmas season.

I know there is probably a special woman on your list that you just are not too sure what to buy her. Let me suggest the Women’s Diamond Quilting Wool Down Vest. This vest showed up on my door step last Friday thanks to Lands’ End. I eagerly tore the box open and was in love. Of course, I hurriedly and put the vest on. Perfect fit. The soft feel and the warmth won me over immediately. We were outdoors Saturday night visiting the Billy Graham Library Christmas scene and it was indeed cold outside. The vest lived up to my expectations and kept me warm and don’t forget, very stylish.

The vest is even on Lands’ End’s St. Nick Christmas list this year. The vest is on sale right now and with this CODE SANTA and PIN 1212. – You can save an additional 30% and free shipping. Now that is a deal!

Merry Christmas and have a merry time shopping.

Disclosure: Lands’ End sent this vest. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Get your Holiday crunch on with Topsy’s Popcorn – GIVEAWAY

December 1, 2011 by Jennifer 62 Comments

Congratulations to comment#22 – Katherine. Check your email!

My childhood brings great memories of having a Holiday tin can of popcorn around throughout the Christmas season. The tin would be the go-to snack every single night and my parents would replenish the tin once it was beginning to run low. Who knew that the popcorn tin tradition started back in 1929 by Topsy’s Popcorn?

Since 1929, Topsy’s has used an original recipe that gives its popcorn an old-fashioned great taste. Back in the day, the oil used to pop the popcorn came in the tins, and Topsy’s decided to recycle the oil tins to package up and deliver popcorn. Pretty interesting right?

On TopsysPopcorn.com, you can choose from a variety of popcorn tins as well as flavors to quickly and easily find the perfect gift for a variety of people your gift list, from family members to co-workers, a child’s teacher, neighbor, friend, or all of the above!

We were sent our very own tin to taste test and oh my word! Have you ever had cinnamon popcorn? I have a new favorite popcorn now. I never even thought about combining cinnamon and popcorn together, but it is an amazing flavor. I will go ahead and tell you, don’t try to eat just one piece. You will continue to reach your hand into the tin for sure. Just like when I was a little girl, the girls have been eating the popcorn as their bedtime snack. I sit back and watch them and just beam. My childhood traditions are being passed onto my girls. Their favorite is the caramel popcorn and cheddar cheese popcorn. We have been crowding around the TV and watching Christmas movies and Christmas specials all the while snacking on popcorn. We will cherish these memories forever.

YOU can do the same. Topsy’s has generously offered to give a Holiday tin to one lucky reader. If you don’t want to wait to see if you win and would like the popcorn NOW (I don’t blame you), then use this special code Topsy01 till December 12, 2011 and SAVE $3 off per tin. Click here to place your order.

WIN!

To Enter:

Leave a comment and tell us your favorite tradition you like to do with your kids during the Holiday season.

Extra Entries:

Tweet about this giveaway.

Post about this giveaway on Facebook.

Subscribe to our feed.

One winner will be drawn randomly. Contest ends December 10, 2011 at 11:59pm ET.

Disclosure: We were provided a tin in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste + $100 Target Giveaway

November 30, 2011 by Jennifer 46 Comments

Toothbrush time can come with lots of fights and tears unfortunately. Even though, I have always pushed toothbrush time and good teeth hygiene, my youngest still likes to put up a fight. Knock on wood though, I believe we may have found a way to decrease the meltdowns and tears. Let’s get silly with the Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Toothpaste.

Each morning and night, we create a silly song and use the toothpaste. Both girls get such a laugh out of the time and they get their teeth cleaned at the same time so it is a win-win all around. It is obvious that I did not look closely before what exactly was in the toothpaste we were using before. After taking a glance at the ingredients of their other regular toothpaste, I was caught way off guard. Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry is the first and only natural kid’s toothpaste to receive the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance for its proven effectiveness. With no artificial dyes or sweeteners, Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste gets its naturally sweet flavor from real strawberries. The girls commented on the flavor the very first time they used the toothpaste. Both agreed it was a pleasant taste.

It is safe to say both girls have made the switch permanently over to the Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. I even brushed my teeth with it to see the flavor and was very surprised by the great taste. It was no wonder the girls enjoy it so much. Another positive is that Tom’s of Maine donates 10% of its profits from all sales back to the community to help people and the planet.

Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry toothpaste is available at retailers including Target nationwide with and without fluoride. Would you like to get a sample sent to you for free for your kids? Click here to request your free sample, but hurry supplies are limited.

Speaking of Target, we are going to make sure you are able to purchase and do the toothpaste swap with your kids with our $100 Target Gift Card Giveaway.

Enter:

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BabyCenter in conjunction with the BabyCenter Blog Network. All prizes and compensation are provided by BabyCenter. Product samples provided by Tom’s of Maine.

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