holiday baking with Betty!

Holiday Baking with Betty!

Baking season is here and the Betty Crocker Bake Center has everything you need to create delicious goodies for your family and friends. Find exclusive savings on essential baking mixes and ingredients from brands such as Betty Crocker, Hershey’s and Ziploc® brand containers, available at Publix. Looking for new baking recipes to delight your guests this season? The Bake Center display will feature four exclusive baking recipes as well as coupons; find the Bake Center at your local Publix


brownies are a big favorite in my house and these just kick it up a notch!

This is Halloween.

I love crafting, but don't have a lot of time or space to do it.

 I saw hand and foot print art on pintrest and knew me and the boys had to make some new Halloween decorations.

 I slightly messed up the spider but hey what do you expect when trying to take a 1 year olds handprints.

 I know I will treasure these decorations forever! 

Boo berry!!!

Monsters Cereals in Special Throwback Packaging, Only Available at Target, are Back!

The Retro Monsters are back! Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry cereals are once again hitting the shelves at Target in their retro packaging and they’ve brought Monsters snack items for you to enjoy as well. Try Count Chocula Treats, Boo Berry Fruit Roll-Ups and Franken Berry Fruit Roll-Ups in special retro packaging, found exclusively at Target.

Perfect for nostalgic cereal fans and Halloween lovers, Monsters cereals and snacks are fun for the whole family.

It is so wierd how things work out sometimes. I was watching The Goldburgs on ABC and they had the cereal Boo-Berry on the show, it instantly brought back childhood memories! The next day this shows up at my door from Platefull 

Me and the boys were more then happy to try them all out! The count Chocula Treats were by far all of our favorites, that box didnt make it a full day in my house of 4.  The count chocula cereal was the 2nd favorite. My youngest Alex (21 months) quickly decided he would just eat the marshmallows out of all three. I remember doing that as a kid as well.. LOL

You can get these throwback cereals and treats at your local Target. 

PS don't forget to cut out and use the monster masks on the back of the cereal. My boys loved them!

Disclosure:The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All views and opinions are honest and our own.

Publix Flavor Excursion

This Recipe looks so good. Im adding the ingredients to my shopping list this week. I think my whole family will enjoy this one.

Be on the lookout for these exclusive savings at Publix starting September 11:

In-Store Savings

Coupons available in-store, look for the Flavor Excursion display with products at your local Publix. Display will be available in most stores between 9/11 and 9/24. Savings available with coupons:
•Save $2 off Publix® Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts when you buy Any Four (4) participating products. Participating products: Progresso™ Bread Crumbs, 100% Natural Broths, Beans, KRAFT Salad Dressing (16oz), Natural Shredded Cheese (6-8oz), Hunt’s® Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz or larger).

•Save $2 off Produce (minimum $2 purchase) when you buy Any Four (4) participating products*. Participating products: Old El Paso™ Seasoning Mixes, Enchilada Sauce, Refried Beans, Taco Shells, Ro*Tel® (10oz or larger), Hunt’s® Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz or larger), KRAFT Natural Shredded Cheese (6-8oz

Coupons available in-store, look for the Flavor Excursion recipe and coupon standee display at your local Publix. Display will be available in most stores between 9/11 and 9/24. Savings available with coupons:

•Save $1.00 off Any Five (5) Ro*Tel® Tomatoes (10oz)

•Save $2.00 off Any Two (2) KRAFT Natural Chunk Cheese 7-8 oz

•Save $1.00 off Any Five (5) Hunt’s® Tomatoes 14.5oz

•Save $1.00 off Any One (1) Bisquick™ 40oz

•Save $1.00 off Any One (1) Old El Paso™ Frozen Entrée

•Save $2.00 off Any Two (2) KRAFT Natural Shredded Cheese 6-8oz

Looking for an Italian themed dessert? Try Crème Brulèe Cheesecake Bars, find the recipe and a $1.50 off any two Betty Crocker pouch Cookie Mixes coupon on the Betty Crocker display in-store.

Plus… find these items on sale this week. No coupon necessary, available at Publix:

•Green Giant Frozen Bag Steamers 11-12oz on BOGO

•Pillsbury Crescents and Pizza 3 for $6

Printable Coupons

Visit www.ReadyPlanSave.com to print your coupons. Available while supplies last.

•Save $1 when you buy FOUR Progresso™ products

•Save $1 when you buy THREE Old El Paso™ products

•Save 75¢ when you buy ONE BOX Old El Paso® Bold Nacho Cheese Flavored Stand 'N Stuff® Taco Shells OR Dinner Kit

•Save $0.50 when you buy ONE 20 OZ. OR LARGER Original Bisquick® OR Bisquick Heart Smart® Baking Mix

•Save $0.60 when you buy THREE any variety Green Giant® Seasoned Steamers™ or Valley Fresh Steamers® Frozen Vegetables.

•Save $0.40 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls
•Save $0.40 when you buy THREE CANS any size/variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Grands!® or Grands! Jr.® Biscuits
•Save $1 when you buy any flavor or variety of Old el Paso™ Froze Entrees
Digital Coupons
Visit, https://publix.couponselectionpage.com/offers/all, to find and instantly select digital coupons. Including the following from ConAgra. Available while supplies last.
•Save $0.40 off any TWO (2) ROTEL® products

•Save $1 on any FOUR (4) Chef Boyardee® canned pasta or microwave cup

•Save $1 on any ONE (1) Orville Redenbacher’s® Gourmet® Popping Corn (6-pk or larger)

•Save $0.50 on any ONE (1) Super Snack Pack® 6 pack

 Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.”

Progresso Chili!

Progresso is my favorite brand of soup and now they have Chili! I was happy to see two versions:

• Smokehouse Pork and Beef Chili with Beans: A spin on a homemade classic includes Andouille sausage, beef, and a secret blend of spices, all slow-cooked with tomatoes, onions, green sweet peppers and pinto and red kidney beans
• Southwest Style White Chicken Chili with Beans: A creamy blend of all-white meat chicken, white beans, green sweet peppers, tomatillos and onion

I really liked that the bottom of the pouch was clear so i could see exactly what was inside.
I tried the Chicken chili and really liked it. It tasted fresh like it was homemade, it had a little spice to it but I wouldn't call it spicy. It was super easy to prepare just pour in a bowl and microwave.

 My husband had the Pork and Beef as a late night snack and said it was very good.
 The Progresso Chili will become a staple in my house, it will be a great weekend lunch or a fast delicious dinner for a busy weeknight.

 

 You can find Progresso chili in the soup section of your local grocery store. Check out all things Progresso by clicking HERE

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned in this post to review. All opinions are mine and I was not influenced in any way.

Smashed red potatoes

My Facebook feed was filled with smashed potato recipes so I decided to give it a try on our Sunday dinner with the neighbors. Super simple just boil red potatoes until soft the use a masher to mash each potato. I didn't have a masher so I used a fork. I then drizzled them with olive oil salt pepper and 2%sharp chedder. I found some left over bacon and added that too. They were delicious! 

Free Fun for Kids

Both Lowes and Home Depot do free kid clinics. I love taking my oldest to these. It teaches them how to build things and is fun. 

The first Saturday of everymonth is Home Depots Clinic. At my Home Depot the kids get an apron, a pin, a project and cookies and a drink when they are done. I suggest wearing something you dont mind getting dirty as most of the clinics I have gone to have paint.

Last month he built a bug catcher..























Im not really sure of Lowes schedule it use to be everyother week but it seems to be more spuratic lately. These kits have been themed around popular kid movies lately. Last week was a push a go Turbo, probably one of my sons favorite things he made. Lowes you have to pre register at lowesbuildandgrow.com Next week is the taco truck from Turbo. The kit at Lowes includes an apron, iron on patch, goggles and they kit to build. No paint has ever been used at any of the clinics I have gone too. 

Watch out world

My youngest learned how to drive his brothers four wheeler! 

It's a super mom kind of day.

Let me start by saying most days I am FAR from super mom. I microwave hotdogs  or a can of Chef Boyardee for dinner more nights than I should. I often make big plans in my head at night for the next day only to do little to none of it the next day. My kids watch more TV than the experts recommend, BUT somedays I pull it all together and have a super mom kind of day. Today has been one of them so far. My oldest is attending a camp, at the Mets Spring Training facility and being coached and helped by real players and real coaches. He is absolutely loving it! Today they had a little scrimmage game and he was up to base at the plate we saw the NY Mets play from a few months ago. He was so happy to be in the dugout and on the field. I was so glad I came early to see the game before pick up.

While the oldest was at baseball camp, the youngest decided it was easier just to sit in the toybox and play than to take the toys out so I printed and planned some summer learning lessons for the oldest. No summer slide for us! I am teaching him cursive and just keeping him sharp on his known math skills and reading comprehension. Along with a few science experiments but those are more fun than learning to him!

. 

Tomorrow I plan on doing something new and fun from my Pintrest board with my youngest... Lets hope tomorrows a Super Mom kind of day too..

Mary Kay

 

I was so excited to get the Mary Kay VoxBox from Influenster! I had been to a Mary Kay party a time or two when i was in my 20's but  I wasnt really that into makeup back then. Now I feel naked if I leave the house without it. 

This is what came in the box. I will admit I have no idea what to do with Bronzing powder... Luckily I went to the Mary Kay site and found this: “For an all-over glow, apply bronzer in the shape of a ‘3’ – tracing on both sides along the hairline, under the cheekbones and along the jawlines.” – Mary Kay Global Makeup Artist Diana Carreiro

I still have not been brave enough to try it... 

When I opened the eyeliner I thought ummm NO just NO but wanted to try it. I FELL IN LOVE! The brush makes it so easy to apply a nice thin line or a thick line. It even makes a cat eye much easier. the best part it doesn't go anywhere!

My favorites of the box were the eyeliner and the lip gloss the two things I didnt think I would like much. The blush is very strong you dont have to apply much to get the desired color. the eyecolor was not the right color for me, but the product itself was creamy and easy to apply. The mascara made my lashes super long and defined.
I definitely like all the products and was impressed with the quality of Mary Kay.
Here I am with all the products on :)

 

Thanks again Influesnter and Mary Kay! 

A toddler and Pinterest

My Son Alex is almost 17 months old and wants to be entertained with something new and fun all the time. Buying him new toys every week is not happening so I started searching Pinterest. I found a great pin 100 things you can purchase from the dollar tree and use in play. I thought hell I can afford the dollar tree. The first thing that caught my eye was sensory bags so off to dollar tree we went.

 

TA DA! LMAO.
Im not thrilled with the way they turned out. The smaller one scares me because its an off name bag and it doesn't seem strong... I also dont like the blue, but who knows maybe Alex will like searching for the snakes in the blue.

I used the bigger quart size on the clear one because the plastic seemed thicker but I only had one bottle for hair-gel and it really could have used two. I taped it down to the size of a sandwich bag, the back is ugly but the front looks fun.



Alex will be up from his nap soon so we will see how he likes them. Hoping they are a hit and I can put them in his diaper bag for restaurants, dr visits, etc...


Two bags cost me under $4.00  next ones i will use the bigger quart size bags but double the amount of hairgel.

Life with a toddler.

Life with a toddler is always fun, Alex is 16 months old and I'm always searching Pinterest, reading blogs, getting books on activities to do with him. Lately he has been obsessed with breaking into the craft closet and getting the pipe cleaners out. 

I remembered this awesome idea I saw on Pinterest and Alex loved it! 

Best part was it was free and kept him happy for a good 15 minutes! I was able to unload the dishwasher in peace. 

Alex decided these shoes should be worn today for my morning chores. He slide them on my feet and cautiously watched me walk around the house. When I couldn't take it anymore I took them off, Alex was right there as soon as he found them wanting me to put my shhhhhhmoooo on 

Goodbye baseball

Today was the last day of my oldest sons baseball season, it was a long season with a lot of ups and downs. 

My son played first base and was awesome, today he made an awesome double play. This season he hit a grand slam and 3 other home runs, he works hard and practices on his own his father and I couldn't be prouder. 

Next year he moves up to kid pitch. 

Now to find a summer sport to sign my athlete up for...

Halloween in May?

I was going to type, I can't believe I have not posted a picture of the adorable costume I made. The truth though is I can believe it with two kids, and a small business life tends to get busy and thingslike my poor blog get neglected. 

Somehow in my crazy life I did finish Alex's costume and it was freaking adorable! 

I entered him into a costume contest at our favorite local resturant and he won, maybe I should have entered him in a few more 😉

Feeling crafty

Yes, this is my dining room table right now....

In March me and my grandma went to a craft store and they had patterns on sale for .99 now I have not sewn anything in years but a really cute pattern caught my attention. I bought said pattern and put it on my desk. Fast forward to October 1st I find pattern hidden under tons of paperwork and it inspires me.. So I went to the fabric store (where I found this gem) 

No no no I didn't buy it and I'm definetly not using it in babies costume...

Anywho, it turns out my sewing skills are not too bad! Perfect? Hell no but I have managed to get this costume 85% done. All I have left is embellishing  

I would be finished with the costume except I was browsing Pinterest and saw these really cool mesh ribbon wreaths, then I went to the new craft store in my neighborhood. The craft store had a huge display of materials to make these wreaths so I bought them all and started that project also...

If this cute one would give me a little more free time I might be able to finish...

Pictures of finished crafts coming soon....

Baby food

With my first son i was so excited to start every new milestone with him. At his 4 month dr app they dr said i could start him on cereal and I did that day in fact. I never made any of his baby food from scratch because I tried apples once, it was a disaster and I purchased all the rest.
With my 2nd child Im doing things much differently. At his 4 month appointment the dr gave me the go ahead but i decided I would take his cues and wait for him to be ready. I did start him a week before 5 months. I also am making his baby food. So far we have made sweet potatos seriously so easy, I put them in the oven when they are tender I peel the skin off and put in a food processor. i then freeze in ice cube trays  and then transfer the cubes to freezer bags taking out what i need each day. i have also made butternut squash the exact same way. Pears was a bit different I had to peel and core then steam them. i steamed them in the microwave then ran through the food processor. All very simple and it makes me feel like super mom feeding my son home made food.
This weekend I will make apples and green beans.
hoping they are just as easy and liked.

Wedding Planning

I have been very busy with Wedding planning and taking care of Alex my now 3 month old.

I have always wanted to get married and me and my Fiance have been together for almost 15 years. i had no idea how much planning and money went into a wedding! I went dress shopping on Saturday and even though I am not the size I am going to be on my wedding day, I had to order my dress and it will be in one week before my wedding! EEEK I really hope it comes in early because it is going to have to be altered.
I am on a mission to get back to my pre pregnancy weight. This means I am doing the couch to 5K program again. I found that I hate running with a stroller maybe its the fact that I just have a regular stroller not a jogging stroller but I really dislike it. In a perfect world a Bob jogging stroller would just appear on my front porch and I could run with Alex but it hasn't yet, so I have been running on my treadmill. On the other 3 days i am doing 30 day shred or a similiar video and extra arm exercises since wedding dresses really show off your arms and shoulders.
I am also following Weight Watchers and since I am exclusively breastfeeding I get a ton of points to eat each day.

I will keep updating my progress :)

totinos Pizzeria rolls

I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to try the new Totinos Pizzeria Rolls thanks to General Mills and Myblogspark. 
They come in 3 flavors

My family tried all 3 for dinner one night. The Meatball marinara was my favorite. My 7 year olds favorite was the cheesy Garlic and Daddy well he liked them all!

Check out the Totino's website for some tasty dip recipes
Find them here on facebook and get a .50 off coupon while supplies last

Im back

Im back and Im a mom of 2! Right after Christmas I gave birth to a wonderful 7lb 1oz baby boy, via emergency C-section.
   My first pregnancy was full of complications, my blood pressure got high around 26 weeks, I was put on bedrest. I developed gestational diabetes and ultimately ended up having to be induced at 34 weeks and had a 5lb baby who had to spend 16 days in the NICU.
  Needless to say it took me a long time to decide to try and have another child. I didn't want the same problems I had with my first pregnancy so I decided to get healthy before getting pregnant. I was running 6-10 miles a week, eating healthy and was at a healthy weight. My dr gave me to go ahead ot start trying and said the chances of my blood pressure going high were slim.
  A few days after mothers day I got my positive pregnancy test, I was so excited to bring new life into this world. The beginning of my pregnancy was great no big problems, my blood pressure was even low. I didn't even develop gestational diabetes this time.
  At our 18 week ultrasound we found out we were having another boy.
On Dec 23rd I just didn't feel right so i took my blood pressure and it was high. I called my dr and they told me to go to the hospital since it was a Sunday. I had been through this with my first I was pretty sure they would run tests, then send me home on bed rest. Boy was I wrong I got myself admitted to the hospital. They wanted to do a 24 hour test so as much as it sucked i was stuck in the hospital, but i figured once the 24 hour test was over about 8pm on Christmas eve I would be good to go. Unfortunately my blood pressure had different ideas. It would not go down so the dr wouldn't release me on Christmas eve. I made the choice to check myself out against medical advice so I could spend Christmas with my family. The nurses all seemed to understand but the dr was no happy. I had a mellow but dizzy Christmas and checked myself back into the hospital around 5pm Christmas night. to every ones surprise my blood pressure was normal. I thought whooo hooo we solved the problem I will be going home and having a full term pregnancy. My labs showed my potassium levels were really low so they wanted to keep me just to get my levels up. Im not sure why but my body was resistant to getting my levels up, i had 5 IV bags of potassium and it barely got to the normal level. Of course my blood pressure shot back up again so after 5 days in the hospital they decided to go ahead and induce me. I was moved to a beautiful delivery room and given Cervidal. I only had about 2 contractions when my blood pressure shot up to 215/115 so they ordered IV meds and more IV meds and it would not go down. The dr came in and said it was time to do a C-section for mine and the babies safety. I had never been more scared in my life. I had never had a surgery, I wasn't planning on an epidural needles in the back are not appealing to me at all. thank god for a wonderful nurse who calmed me down and eased my fears and a wonderful anesthesiologist who kept me company in the times my fiance wasn't allowed in the room. At 11:11 Alexander was born unfortunately when they showed him to me he was blue and headed to the NICU. He was 36 weeks and 6 days one more hour and he would have been considered full term. His lungs didn't get that memo though. Daddy followed baby and they sewed and stapled me up. After 2 hours in recovery they wheeled my whole stretcher to the NICU so I could see and touch my baby. He was doing good except needing a little oxygen. I was hopefull he would be out by morning.
That night was the longest night I got no sleep because I had those stupid leg pumpers on my legs inflating every minute or so and my blood pressure was being taken every 15 min which I of course failed and the alarm would sound. I was put on magnesium for 24 hours to stop me from having a stroke. Magnesium is the worst drug ever it makes you feel horrible, not to mention I just had major abdominal surgery. After 24 hours I was taken off of it and started to feel better but the pain of a c-section is unbelievable I would take a vaginal birth any day over a c-section. Once I was allowed to get out of bed it was time to concentrate on my little man. Unfortunately I had to leave the hospital without him. Something I had to do with both my kids.. The dr assured me he would not be in there as long as my first. He was right he was released 7 days later.
I think my family is complete it is just to big of a risk on my life to go through another pregnancy. i would love to try to add a little girl to the mix but would never do so with the risk of making my boys motherless.
I would like to thank the wonderful nurses at my hospital. I have a whole new respect for nurses after being put through this ordeal. My nurses and the NICU nurses were all a great support system for not only my physical needs but my emotional needs as well.

Coming home day

 My boys

 My chunky Monkey at one month old.

Star Wars the Complete Saga!!

Star Wars has put complete saga on a blu ray combo pack!! I want this to share these great movies with my son. His cousins are huge star wars fans and its time for him to find out about this great series.