One of the things that I love about blogging is having the opportunity to give away things to my readers. I'm actually pretty good at winning things on other blogs, too!
And actually, just today my kids asked me if they can go and see the movie Hotel Transylvania.. starring Adam Sandler and Selena Gomez.The release date is September 28, 2012.. today, so I'm sure we'll be heading out in the near future to see this new family film. At 8 and 10, I feel my girls are ready for the PG rating. But just in case you have little ones, there is some rude humor, action, and scary images. Little man will have to sit this one out.
Visit Hotel Transylvania here ( a place where monsters can rest in peace) to learn more about the film.
Now for the giveaway...
The Hotel Transylvania gift pack- includes the following..
Activity Book
Book Cover
Eraser Set
T-shirt
Giveaway ends... Friday, October 5th, 2012 :USA- Eastern Time. (This contest is now closed.)
My Well-Being, a website powered by Humana, focuses on more than just your health. As parents, it is important that we take care of not only our families but our own well being- our health, our finances, and our leisure time.
At times, I must admit, I haven't been very good about this. I've put my finances on a back-burner and paid bills late or maybe haven't invested as wisely as I should have. Also, I've made sure that I have plenty of time to take care of my family, husband, and sometimes the house, but have forgotten about myself and nuturing my interests and friendships. This is where I think this website will be helpful. How can I take care of my own health and wellness so that I can be a better mother, wife, and friend?
Once you join this community, you can personalilze your experience by taking a Well Being Assessment. It focuses on these four areas: Health, Money, People, and Play. The area that I found that I need to focus on from my assessment was the area of Money. Articles on organizing my finances and budgeting should be helpful. Other articles that I enjoyed reading included 10 Ways to Find More Happiness and Organzing the Family.
To find out more aboutt My Well Being, be sure to view the video below. It didn't take long to register for the site and one of the perks to registering is a FREE Dummies book. So check out My Well Being. Let me know if you sign up and what articles you are interested in reading.
Recently, I had fun cooking with my kids while trying out a new sweetener at the same time. Being a mom, I'm apprehensive when it comes to sugar substitutes, so I was very curious to try NECTRESSE™. This new sweetener is made from a fruit that I didn't really know a lot about until now. It is called Monk fruit. It is a small green melon that grows in the mountain regions of Asia. NECTRESSE™ is actually the only 100% natural sweetener made from a fruit extract that is available on the market thus far. NECTRESSE™ was created by combining the sweet monk fruit with other natural sweeteners thus giving you the sweet taste without all of the calories.
We found this easy and yummy recipe (Bite Size Apples Pies-Taste of Home) from the blog.. Cookin Up North. NECTRESSE™Sweetener is much sweeter than sugar, so we only needed to use half of the portion needed for the recipe.
Bite Size Apple Pies -Taste of Home
1/2 c. sugar (substituted 1/4 cup of NECTRESSE™) 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 pkg. (14.1 oz..} refrigerated pie crust 3 tbsp. melted butter, divided 2 medium tart apples, each cut into 8 wedges
In a small bowl, combine the sweetener and cinnamon, set aside 1 Tbsp. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the pastry. Brush with 2 Tbsp. melted butter, sprinkle with remaining mixture.
Cut each sheet into 8 one inch strips, about 8 in. long. Wrap one strip around each apple wedge, placing sugared side of pastry against apple.
Place on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush tops with melted butter and sprinkle with mixture. Bake at 425 for 13-15 minutes or until pastry is golden brown. Serve warm. Makes 16.
The recipe turned out great and the combination of the sweetener and cinnamon was perfect. We probably could have even used less of the sweetener. And if you are in the mood to splurge a little, add a dollop of vanilla ice-cream!
After baking with NECTRESSE™ and using it in my coffee, my family recommends this new product and plan on using it again. We truly enjoyed the taste of it. Actually, it is also recommended by Lisa Ling. Due to a family history of diabetes she has been cautious of her sugar intake and has relied on no calorie sweeteners to satisfy her sweet tooth. Learn more about her experiences below and feel free to share her video with others who may be interested.
So excited about my 50 cent find today- this foam ABC elephant puzzle! It is a little challenging, but little man and I were able to work on it together. Even my 8 year old had fun putting it together. Great for letter identification and fine motor fun!
Oh, I found it on the clearance rack at Rite-aid by the way. Just in case you have this store where you live, you may want to take a peek.
The Hotel Transylvania gift pack- includes the following..
