I've been trying some new recipes lately and have been having so much fun baking & cooking! I have never really been great in the kitchen, but I've never really tried hard either.  I am finding so much enjoyment in making meals and treats for my family.  It's actually a lot of  fun, and I'm not too bad at it either! I feel so domestic lately, it muyst be the new home and new baby having an affect on me :)

I've never made Banana Bread before, this was my first try. And it turned out delicious!!  I thought I over cooked it, but on the inside it is SO soft and moist.  We had a favorite bakery back in MN that I would always buy banana bread at, and my Husband said this is better than that!  That makes me feel great, and inspires me to keep making great food!

Here is the recipe from Betty Crocker:


You'll Need:

1 1/4 cups sugar


1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Directions:
 
1. Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in center of oven. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, or 1 loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.


2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.

3. Bake 8-inch loaves about 1 hour, 9-inch loaf about 1 1/4 hours, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.


I added chocolate chips to my banana bread, right before adding it to the pan. I also skipped the nuts, since I'm not too fond of them in my breads.  You'll want to try this recipe, it is a great one!

Ten Things To Miss If Mom Was Abducted By Aliens!

Being  a Mom means running the household...whether it be making sure your child has their favorite jeans washed & ready for Monday morning, keeping track of Doctor appointments, or getting a hot meal on the table...moms do it all!  Sometimes, as kids get older, the may forget just how much Mom does for them!

To celebrate the March 11th release of 'Mars Needs Moms' SocialMoms is having a fun blogging opportunity for moms to share what their kids would miss most if they were abducted by aliens!  I'm pretty sure that these things would get my kids missing me so much, they'd find a way to get me back...just like in the movie!

• My comfort when they are sick or hurt.  Nothing is better than having your Mom with you when you are hurting.  My Husband does a good job too, but there is something about the comfort I give my girls that is something only a Mommy can do.

• Dancing!  When I dance with my Daughter, we have so much fun! It's hilarious to teach her my silly moves. She doesn't care if I look ridiculous or can't dance well. It's about letting loose, laughing, and bonding with my girl.

• Cuddles!  Both of my girls love to cuddle!  My oldest likes to cuddle at night still, which I soak up and enjoy because it won't be like that forever.  My youngest of course is a cuddle bug, and she sleeps on me with love and trust.

• Doing Girly Things - Hair, nails, and fashion!  I can't resist a pretty dress that is perfect for spinning.  I paint her nails and do her hair, and totally get the Princess thing.  After all, I was once a little girl too!

• Imaginary Play - My Daughter takes after me in this way.  She can play for hours with anything....things like sticks, rocks, her own fingers even....become alive with her imaginations.  They become real to her, have conversations, and play out stories.  She has the best imagination and I love playing along with her!  I think she'd miss that extra playmate she gets from her Mommy.

• Singing Songs!  I teach her some great songs that I knew when I was a kid.  I even make up completely new ones to help her get through a hard situation, or to make something more fun!  She used to hate brushing her teeth until I made up a fun song that we could sing together!

• Our talks.  She's only 3, but I think she would miss our chats about different things. I like to ask her questions, have her tell me stories, give her my undivided attention and really hear her.  If she is acting out, I get down on her level and find out WHY she is crying.  What is the reason behind her attitude. It usually helps her so much, and I think she trusts me because of it.

• My smiles!  This is mainly for the new baby!  She is smiling now, which warms my heart so much.  I am good at getting her to smile back at me, and I believe she knows my face from other people.  My smile is familiar to her, and she likes to return the favor :)

• Holding her!  My baby knows that if she needs me, if she cries, if she is hungry, Mom will be there for her.  I will come scoop her up, let her feel my warmth and love, and help her.  Make it better.  Even my oldest knows this.  If she falls, is sick, or needs help, I will come scoop her up and rescue her. 

• The way I know them so well. I know when my oldest gets scared. She has a certain look on her face, even a fake smile, and a tone of voice that tells me she is scared.  Even when she tries to hide it, or fake being happy, I can tell. I know her better than anyone. I've been with her everyday of her life since she was born.  I know what she needs, and she knows I will give her that.

 

There really are so many things I think they would miss about me.  Fortunately, I don't foresee any alien abductions in my future, so my girls won't have to worry about fighting martians to get me back :)  Instead, we'll just enjoy the movie 'Mars Need Martians' when it comes to theaters!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (make sure you link to http://marsneedsmoms.socialmoms.com/about)

A Weekend Any Twilight Fan Would Appreciate!

My amazing Husband surprised me with a really fun time last weekend.  He wouldn't tell me what we were doing or where we going, just that he had my day planned for me.  Of course this made me nervous, because we aren't always on the same page when it comes to fun :)

After driving to who knows where, we ended up here.  Recognize it??

It's the Carver Cafe...the exact place that the cafe scenes were filmed in the movie Twilight!!!  How cool is that!!!  We had breakfast there (which was so delicious!) and then busted out the camera.  The waiter & waitress were so friendly, she even asked me if I wanted to sit in the exact table that they filmed in.  Of course I was really excited for that! 

They are so used to tourists, they said that teens come in and completely freak out, LOL! 

I was SO proud of my Husband for finding this place for me. It was a complete surprise, and he had the whole thing planed out for me. I was thinking of taking the long drive to Forks Washington this summer to get my picture taken there, but I really love the idea of visiting the places that the actors actually filmed at. We also saw one of the high schools and the Cullen house.  Next time we get some free time we're going to drive by Bella's house, which would be so cool to see since so much was filmed there!

When we got home we put the movie in since it had been so long, and it was really cool to see the places we visitied on the tv! Hubby definitely got big points for this one!

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Mealtime Etiquette - My Tips!

Dinnertime with toddlers can sometimes be a challenge.  My daughter has always been extremely picky with her food.  If it isn't the right brand, color, or does not look familiar, she doesn not want to go near it.  It is really frustrating as a Parent, let me tell you!  There are certain things I have done to make dinnertime a little more smooth for all of us.  It has helped to get everyone toegther to enjoy meals....

Here are some of my Do' and Don't of Meal Time Etiquette.  If you'd like to see more, head over to Socialmoms.com!

• Do-  Involve Your Child.  If you let them help cook the food, prepare the food, or serve the food, they may be more willing to try it.  Sometimes my daughter will help me cook but still not want the food.  But that's okay because we are still getting quality time together while we cook, and who knows the next time she may just try it!
• Do - Have your Child Try One Bite.  I will have my daughter try one bute of something new, just because she may end of liking it. 
• DON'T - No TV While We Eat. This is a big one!  Dinner time is an important time to get together as a family and share stories about your day. When my Husband gets home, we sit down and eat together and leave the tv off. That way we are forced to chat and won't rely on the tv to fill the silence.
• No Cell Phones At The Table. My Daughter is too young for this,ut it's a great one for teens...and the Husband!
• Clean Up Your Own Dish - When you are finished with your meal, you can get up and clear your plate in the sink.  It's easier if they are rinsed right away, and it lets everyone help in the cleaning process.
• Wash Your Hands Before You Eat  Especially important with kids in the house!  If they are outside playing, and come in to eat, make them wash up frst!
• Use A Napkin - not your sleeve...pretty slef explanatory right?
• Teach Kids How To Set The Table - the right way!  Show them where all of the silverware goes, the cup, the napkins.  People may not know these skills anymore, but it's important to learn.  I personally learned from my Granmother.  The table had to be set the proper way everytime, so I learned earlly and would help her set the table for holidays and everyday meals.  I never forgot and will teach my daughters too!

I am sure as my children get older, there will be even more rules for dinnertime.  They will want ot be playing outside, texting, the whole teenager thing.  What are some of your tips for a smoth and enjoyable dinner?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Kraft Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Wubbzy DVD Winner

Wubbzy Be Mine DVD Winner

#21 Michelle

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Helpful Tips For Planning Your Valentine's Day Evening/Weekend!

Still trying to come up with a special Valentine's Day plan? Here are some helpful tips to make the planning easier and more fun!

Plan a getaway... at a hotel in your own backyard. A romantic escape in your own hometown is a great way to “get away” from life’s daily stresses without having to go too far – or breaking the bank. Plus, with Valentine’s Day on a Monday this year, you can add an extra day of romance to your weekend together.

Pack a picnic. Fill up a picnic basket with all of the foods and luxuries that you both enjoy most – think chocolates or gourmet take-out from a favorite restaurant. This allows you to spend time one-on-one, without the hassle and high price of dining at a restaurant.

Fill the day with little surprises. Take a bubble bath, plan a movie marathon, and make a playlist of favorite songs that you can both relax to. Remember – Valentine’s Day is really about the experience and enjoying every moment together.

Find deals that let you indulge yourselves. Look for deals that do the planning for you with some great value-added bonuses. DoubleTree by Hilton’s “Sweet Romance Getaway” package greets couples with a bottle of sparkling wine waiting in the room so you can kick off the Valentine’s Day celebration in style. Plus, you’ll even receive a full breakfast in the room or in the restaurant, and perks like early check in and late check out so you are guaranteed extra quality time with your sweetheart. And who could forget that the hotel’s legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies, are a guaranteed sweet treat for everyone at the end of the night!

We'll be celebrating Valentine's Day this coming weekend since the holiday falls on a worknight this year.  Of course we'll have the kids along, since it has become more of a fun family holiday which is still great! Whatever you choose to do, the important thing is to share it with someone you love!

Disclaimer: Info shared with you on behalf of Doubletree & Ketchum PR. No monetary compensation was provided for this post.

Dei Fratelli Review - Delicious Products For Your Everyday Meals!

When it comes to dinner, I want something that is easy to make that still tastes fresh and is good for my family.  Some of my favorite dishes involve tomatoes so I was very excited to be able to review some items from Dei Fratelli!  I had never tried this brand before, but when I saw how many versatile products they carried I knew it would be a great fit for my family.

Dei Fratelli carries Pasta Sauces, Salsas, Canned Tomatoes, Tomato Juice, Pizza Sauce, Sloppy Joe Sauce, and more!  Their products are made with fresh ingredients like vine ripened tomatoes that taste fresh from the garden.  Dei Fratelli means "of the brothers" which supports their message of Family being their secret ingredient.  Food brings family together, and you can enjoy a delicious meal with your family and Dei Fratelli every night of the week!

The Original Salsa (Mild) was absolutely delicious!  I am not normally a salsa fan, only because I can't tolerate hot foods very well. If it burns my mouth and tongue when I eat it, I am just not interested.  But when I tried this salsa, I could actually taste the tomatoes!  And the flavors of the peppers, onions, and garlic was sweet and tasted fresh.  I could not stop eating this with my favorite chips, and since there is no fat in the salsa you won't have to feel guilty for enjoying this as a topping on your favorite meals!

I used the sloppy joe sauce to make this yummy meal one night, and it was a great hot meal to enjoy after a cold day.  I browned hamburger, then mixed in the Dei Fratelli Sloppy Joe sauce and some frozen veggies.  After heated, I put the mixture into individual ramekins and place a Pillsbury biscuit on top.  This was a delicious and easy meal that my family really enjoyed!  The sloppy joe sauce was so good and had a robust tomato flavor. I'll definitely be adding it to my grocery list!

I highly recommend trying Dei Fratelli next time you are at your local grocery store.  Use them to add delicious flavor to your meals.  You can also find plenty of recipes that include your favorite Dei Fratelli product.  Next on my list to make is the Grilled Chicken Fajitas!

Disclaimer: I received these products in exchange for an honest review. No monetary compensation was provided.  All  opinions are my own and different people may have different experiences with products and/or company.

Wubbzy Be Mine DVD Giveaway! Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is less than 2 weeks away!  It's such a fun holiday, even for kids!  There are crafts to do, Valentine's to create, and yummy treats to bake!  And one of my Daughter's favorite characters Wubbzy is helping the kids get excited for Valentine's Day with a new DVD called "Wubbzy Be Mine"

Here's more info on this fun DVD!

As Valentine’s Day is approaching, I wanted to share with you the release of Wubbzy’s newest DVD called “Wubbzy Be Mine.” The festive new DVD, which offers loads of Valentine’s Day–themed fun for young viewers and their families, is set to spark lots of “Wubb love” and laughter – just in time to celebrate the special day!


“Wubbzy Be Mine” (SRP $12.98) is an irresistible compilation of three episodes featuring the series’ well-loved characters, Wubbzy, Widget, Walden and Daizy. In “Mr. Valentine,” Wuzzleburg’s trusty mailman falls ill on Valentine’s Day and Wubbzy steps in to deliver all the valentines, but he soon discovers there are none for him…. To Wubbzy’s surprise, his pals personally deliver his valentines, saving the best for last! In “Cupid’s Helper,” Cupid pays a visit to Wuzzleburg, but loses his prized bubble-blower. When Wubbzy finds it, he starts blowing bubbles bringing together some of Wuzzleburg’s oddest couples. And, in “My Speedy Valentine,” the third love-filled episode on the new release, Wubbzy and his pals try to find the fastest way ever to make their own valentines, but something keeps bugging Walden….

One reader will win this DVD perfect for Valentine's Day along with some Wubbzy Valentine Candy Hearts!

To enter this giveaway simply become a Follower of my blog on Google Friend Connect!

Extra Entries: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete.

1. Subscribe to this blog by Email
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3. Blog about this Giveaway (leave the link)
4. Follow me on Twitter
5. Tweet about this Giveaway - you can do this once a day!

Giveaway will end on February 7th at 10pm CST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and has 48 hours to reply to my email or a new winner will be chosen. US Residents only.

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation or products were received for this post. Simply taking the opportunity to host a giveaway for a reader!

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Have Some Fun This Valentine's Day With Eden Fantasys!

*Links provided in this post contain adult material! They are intended for an audience of 18 or older only***

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, many people have romance on the mind!  Whether you are looking for something sweet or a little spicy, EdenFantasys has you covered!


EdenFantasys is an online retailer of products that can help you spice up your love life.  Personally I would not have the time to go shopping at a store that sold sexy products....being a stay at home Mom that just doesn't happen.  With EdenFantasys you can shop right from the privacy of your own home.....online....taking all the time you need to pick something perfect for you. 


When searching through their website, I found the products to be surprisingly affordable!  With specialty products you tend to see higher prices, but there were tons of items that were under $20...even lingerie sets! I really love babydoll nighties, they have some really pretty colors and styles to choose from.  Of course, I just had a baby so I may not look exactly like those models wearing the outfits on the website, but I am pretty sure my Husband would be thrilled anyway! ;) 


I also loved EdenFantasys selection of Sensual Bath & Body Products and Aromatherapy candles!  This particular one uses soy wax and lead free wicks to get a clean even burn...for up to 50 hours! Choose from scents like Angel Food Cake, Valencia Orange, Pomegranate, or Cucumber!  Candles are an easy way to add romance and set the mood for a special evening!

And how romantic would these rose petals look on a bed! Perfect for Valentine's Day! (Rose Petals Exposion, $15.45)

Sometimes as Moms we tend to let the romance department slack a little, I know I am guilty of that.  This Valentine's Day, why not surprise your Husband with some unexpected fun from EdenFantasys?  When the package is delivered to your house, it is in a discreet box that won't let anyone know your little secret.  You can shop from home, get it delivered right to your house, all at an affordable price!  Check out EdenFantasys to find the perfect bit of romance for you and your partner!

Disclaimer: I will receive a gift card to thank me for my time in posting this.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.  Different people may have different experiences with products and/or company.