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Just Kidding Presents Alastair Moock At NYC Symphony Space

January 4, 2013 Uncategorized No comments

NYC families, tomorrow check out Just Kidding Presents Alastair Moock and the Rowdy Roots!

Saturday, January 5, 11 am

2537 Broadway (at 95th)

New York, NY, 10025

Tickets: (212) 864-5400

boxoffice@Symphonyspace.org

More information: www.symphonyspace.org/genre/family

Tickets: $13 to $20

Alastair Moock has been called “a Tom Waits for your tots,” whose performances are rfull of audience participation, singing and dancing.

The show will feature classics by the likes of Woody Guthrie, Mississippi John Hurt and Leadbelly as well as witty originals from Alastair’s award-winning releases These Are My Friends and A Cow Says Moock.

NewImage “Alastair Moock’s all-American folk music plays out if he were the second coming of Tom Waits.” ~ Performing Songwriter

“Moock’s wonderful knack for filling catchy ditties with humorous lyrics will bring a smile to your face” ~ National Parenting Publications Gold Award

“With a gravely voice that has a smile just beneath the surface, I suspect he gets as many grown ups as kids singing along at his shows.” ~ CoolMomTech

“These real-life family songs are as sweetly satisfying as a mouthful of caramel, sung in an affable leap-froggy baritone.” ~ Boston Globe

Please stay tuned for all of this season’s eclectic and exciting performances in the Just Kidding series. Don’t miss the Justin Roberts (February 23), The KamiKaze Fireflies (January 12), Moona Luna (January 19), Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band (February 2), The Deedle Deedle Dees (March 2) and Hot Peas ‘N Butter (April 13).

Hickory Farms Charitable Initiatives

December 27, 2012 Uncategorized One comment

Last month I was sent a tasty Hickory Farms gift box:

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All of the contents have been consumed (well, there is some mustard left) in the form of grilled cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, and sliced meat logs on crackers. Mmm.

Besides the instant gratification of consuming delicious Hickory Farms food products, you can feel good that by purchasing Hickory Farms products, you are also “giving back”.

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For every Signature Party Planner Gift sold, Hickory Farms donates $5 to provide funding for summer meal programs, emergency food assistance, nutrition education, and long-term solutions for families in need. To learn more, visit nokidhungry.org.

Hickory Farms also has a partnership with Operation Gratitude – a national nonprofit that creates care packages for military men and women and their families. Hickory Farms has eight products that they offer free shipping to military APO and FPO addresses, including the “Home for the Holidays” gift basket.

Check out @HickoryFarms on Twitter and Facebook!

You can buy Hickory Farms gift sets at HickoryFarms.com.

Disclaimer: Compensation and products for review were provided by Hickory Farms via MomTrends. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hickory Farms.

Virtual Piggy: The Safe Way For Kids To Shop Online @FollowPiggy #VirtualPiggy

December 22, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

Virtual Piggy is the safest way for children to save, spend, and give online.

This year, for the first time, Jojo (age 8) had saved up $20 that he wanted to spend on Lego.

The tooth fairy had been kind to him.

I took him to the Lego store thinking that he could probably find something there. To my horror, $20 buys Jack Squat at the Lego Store, so I told him we would go to Target instead.

He wanted to buy 2 sets for $10 each. At the Target store we found only one set under $11. So we went home and searched online.

Did Jojo have a way to pay for things online? No. No he did not.

Enter VIRTUAL PIGGY, a way for kids to shop online without having access to your credit card.

A parent registers their account, providing information such as their preferred credit card for future purchases, and a shipping address. Then, the parent can create accounts for each of their children and establish detailed parental controls (such as approved merchants, transaction limits, levels of transaction approvals). Because financial and shipping information is stored in the parent account, the child never has access to it. The child is then able to check out at Virtual Piggy merchants, using only their username and password.

This is a great way for children to feel independent, like the way Jojo beamed with pride when he handed over his very own money in the check out line for the first time…but it also protects your information.

Your credit card information is kept under our PCI-DSS Level 1 Certified security, the highest level available.

Because this information is stored under your parent account, your child never has access to it.

You can set monthly allowance amounts, savings targets and charity goals.

You also have the option to require approval on every purchase your child makes, or just some of them. You can set a maximum limit per transaction, per day or per week, or restrict which merchants your child is able to shop at.

The child has to balance spending and savings goals, and can always see their purchase history. By putting your child into a real world environment where they’re able to make their own purchases, you’re giving them their first experience with managing a budget while holding onto the reigns yourself!

Check out Virtual Piggy on facebook and @FollowPiggy on Twitter!

This video is sponsored by Splash Creative Media on behalf of Virtual Piggy.

Aldi Awesome Holiday Deals

December 21, 2012 Uncategorized 2 comments

If you have never shopped at an Aldi grocery store, you are missing out.

By offering a selection of store brand and special buy items, and having a no-nonsense, no-frills store layout, Aldi has all of your staple foods and some fancy extras for amazingly low prices.

I already was a huge Aldi fan before the holidays, but I picked up two 99 cent chocolate Advent calendars from Aldi in November, and they have been the highlight of my kid’s lives this month.

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Every morning, the first thing they think of when they wake up is “Can I eat my chocolate now?”

And I’m all getting cool mom points, “Yes, darling.”

When I walk into “my” Aldi, the first thing I encounter is tempting bottles of wine that average about $6.99 each. Then they have fancy chocolates and sweets, chips, crackers, jerky, fruit snacks, granola bars…on to baking goods like flour, spices, oil, mixes…round the corner past the granola bars and dairy case, stroll by cereals for under $2 a box, and then encounter “special buys” like holiday toys or seasonal foods.

Every few steps, I added items to my shopping bag. I was given a $25 Aldi gift certificate to write this blog post, and I was trying to make sure I spent at least $25. So every time I added an item to my bag, I typed in the price on my phone calculator.

By the time I finally reached $25, I could barely lift my shopping bag anymore! The prices at Aldi are so awesome, $25 goes a very long way!

Aldi has a lot of cool seasonal stuff at amazingly low price points. I found the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree for $7.99!

IMAG2404 IMAG2403 They also have real name brand toys, so Aldi can be a one-stop holiday shop before you go off to see the extended family! IMAG2402 IMAG2401

I spent only $28 and got some great holiday items like a box of hot cocoa mix with marshmallows ($1.19), cordial cherries ($1.29), and even a pomegranate for .69 cents!

I love that I can buy fresh seasonal produce at Aldi for a low price. I scored 2 broccoli crowns for .99 cents, a 3lbs of sweet potatoes for 79 cents (seriously! a bag of sweet potatoes for .79 cents!), fresh salsa for $1.99, 3 pounds of gala apples for $2.99, a container of baby bella mushrooms for $1.49…I mean my produce budget can REALLY stretch far in Aldi.

In the summer they have crazy deals like nectarines for 25 cents each, and seasonal berries for dollars cheaper than other grocery stores in my area.

Aldi’s website is very informative as well. You can make shopping lists, check out their Suggested Shopping Items, ALDI Wine Pairing Tips, and Holiday Entertaining Tips!

You can save tons on entertaining staples like mixed nuts and cheese and wine! Impress your guests for less! Love me some ALDI!

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for ALDI. I received a gift certificate to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.”

Peppa Pig Toys For Christmas Joys

December 20, 2012 Uncategorized One comment

We have an unexpectedly awesome toy at our house that my 5 and 8 year old have been incorporating into A LOT of different play scenarios with everything from plastic green army men to Bilbo Baggins Legos.

This Peppa Pig Peek ‘n Surprise Playhouse is awesome… it has a bedroom, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom and more than 18 play pieces, including Peppa and George figures.

A washing machine flips to reveal clean clothes, a fridge opens up to reveal food, a barbecue flips for different meals, and the bathtub flips to reveal bubbles.

All of the pieces can store inside (yay) and there is a handle so that your child can carry it around when closed.

Aww, look how cute the Hug ‘n Oink Peppa Pig Talking Plush is! She is 12 inches tall, and wait until you hear her voice! When squeezed she says different phrases like “A lovely hug!” in a nice, calm, not-shrill voice. I give this toy two thumbs up from a parental perspective. It talks with minimal annoyance factor. Win!

To round out the Peppa collection, you might want to add a DVD. We have Peppa Pig – Muddy Puddles, which contains the following “peppasodes”. (haha!)

1. Muddy Puddles

2. Mr Dinosaur is Lost

3. Polly Parrot

4. Best Friend

5. Hide and Seek

6. The Playgroup

7. Mummy Pig at Work

8. Camping

9. Gardening

10. Bicycles,

11. The New Car

12. Snow

I am a Peppa Pig fan because the shows are so calm and gentle but also entertaining! If you have a Peppa Pig fan (or if you think you want your kid to BE a Peppa Pig fan…) look for these toys at Toys R Us or online!

I was provided with the items mentioned in this blog post because of my relationship with Team Mom. This review is honest and I do think these toys are adorbs.

Free Cookies From @americanexpress @momomilkbar #AmexMakeMyDay

December 19, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

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American Express & Famed Momofuku Milk Bar Pastry Chef Christina Tosi were giving out cookies all over NYC on Saturday, December 15th!

It was a one-day only holiday cookie truck in collaboration with American Express.

This event is part of a new program brought to you by American Express and it’s commitment
to celebrating Cardmembers and their sources of inspiration.

AmEx can make you awesome…would you believe Christina started her own cookie empire just two years ago with the
help of her Amex Card?

Today, Momofuku Milk Bar has grown to ?ve bakeries and a commissary.

If you missed the free cookies (I did ) here is a recipe for consolation:

cornflake-chocolate chip-candy cane cookies

makes 15 to 20 cookies

16 tablespoons
(2 sticks)
1 ¼ cup
2?3 cup
1
1 teaspoon
1 ½ cups
½ teaspoon
¼ teaspoon
1 ½ teaspoons
recipe below
2/3 cup
1 ¼ cup
18 ea

unsalted butter

granulated sugar
light brown sugar, tightly packed
egg
peppermint extract
ap flour
baking powder
baking soda
kosher salt
cornflake crunch
mini chocolate chips
mini marshmallows
candy canes, broken into small pieces
(zip-top plastic bag and rolling pin works wonders)

1. Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle
attachment and cream together on medium-high for 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the
sides of the bowl, add the egg and vanilla, and beat for 7 to 8 minutes. (

2. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and
salt. Mix just until the dough comes together, no longer than 1 minute. (Do not walk
away from the machine during this step, or you will risk overmixing the dough.) Scrape
down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.

3. Still on low speed, paddle in the cornflake crunch and mini chocolate chips just until
they’re incorporated, no more than 30 to 45 seconds. Paddle in the mini marshmallows
and candy cane bits just until incorporated.

4. Using a 2.-ounce ice cream scoop (or a 1?3-cup measure), portion out the dough onto
a parchment-lined sheet pan. Pat the tops of the cookie dough domes flat. Wrap the
sheet pan tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 week. Do
not bake your cookies from room temperature—they will not hold their shape.

5. Heat the oven to 375°F.

6. Arrange the chilled dough a minimum of 4 inches apart on parchment- or Silpat-lined
sheet pans. Bake for 18 minutes. The cookies will puff, crackle, and spread. At the 18-
minute mark, the cookies should be browned on the edges and just beginning to brown
toward the center. Leave them in the oven for an additional minute or so if they aren’t
and they still seem pale and doughy on the surface.

7. Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pans before transferring to a plate or to an
airtight container for storage. At room temperature, the cookies will keep fresh for 5
days; in the freezer, they will keep for 1 month.

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Fancy Drinks With @Torani #Torani

December 16, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

I worked in an independent coffee shop in high school and college. I’m so fancy! The only flavoring syrups we used for our super special drinks were Torani Syrups.

My favorite flavors to add to coffee drinks were Almond or Peppermint. Later I grew and matured and started enjoying Italian Sodas flavored with Pink Grapefruit Torani Syrup.

At any rate, you can NOT have a fancy drink experience without Torani syrup. I am convinced. Now I have Torani syrups in my home, and with the help of my Aeroccino milk frother, I make magic like this:

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That would be a dairy free cafe au lait with almond milk and Hazelnut Torani syrup. Sitting on top of my microwave. In my studio apartment.

On Thanksgiving, I took my little Aeroccino frother and Pumpkin Spice Torani syrup with me in my bag-o-tricks for Thanksgiving dinner. Pumpkin Spice lattes were enjoyed by all.

If you want to look all fancy pants with very little effort, pick up a bottle of some impressive flavor of Torani syrups and get ready to be the hostess with the mostess delicious drinks! Woot Woot!

Check out all of the flavors at http://www.torani.com!

I was blessed with two bottles of Torani syrup by SheSpeaks & Torani in exchange for writing this post. My opinions and loyalties are not boughten. I would work in a coffee shop in high school all over again and develop a love for Torani syrups even without this influence.

When you know, you just know.

Delicious Custom Cookie Mix Makes Gift Giving Easy

December 13, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

When I was in college one year, I was all, “I know an awesome way to give everyone a gift for not a lot of money! I will make GIFTS IN A JAR! Hecks yeah!” Homemade cookie mix. In a jar. Okay you know what? That was a big pain in the butt trying to make those gifts in a jar. So whatEVER.

But! The Mason Jar Cookie Gifts are perfect for giving because THEY PUT THE STUFF IN THE JAR FOR YOU.

Its all in the jar. I like that.

I was deathly ill a week ago and as a single parent, I had to depend on the kindness of my neighbors and friends to help me not die (slash) bring me food and feed my kids.

So, when one friend brought bread and juice and one friend brought soup, after I returned to the Land of the Living, I decided to give them “thanks for not letting me die” gifts from The Mason Jar Cookie Company.

Deeds was SO excited to deliver them he wanted to run out in his pj’s. Seriously.

I was pleased that the packaging is really cute, and the jar inside looks all special and fancy with the layered ingredients.

The Mason Jar Cookie Company provides everything you need to create your own customizable gifts…you can choose the type of cookie, or kind of “build your own adventure” cookie mix. There are even Gluten-Free options!

There are four cookie bases and thirty-five add-ins to choose from. You make the choices (its fool proof, don’t worry, they guide you and won’t let you fail).

When your custom cookie mix arrives, it’s layered all pretty like edible sand art in a mason jar.

Follow the directions, which is something like “add butter and an egg”, and bake it up.

The average price of one custom-made cookie jar is $19 (prices vary)(doy duh).

So don’t make yourself cray cray searching for recipies for cookies or trying to layer a chocolate cookie mix in a jar yourself. Just…stop.

Also, if your friends help you not die by bringing you food when you are too dizzy to walk to the door, bless them with deliciousness!

Thank you, Mason Jar Cookie Company!

Holiday Hair Wishes Come True With Hair Products from @Folica

December 12, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

This Holiday season, Folica.com can make your hair wishes come true!

With Folica’s “Everyone Wins Great Hair” promotion, everyone wins up to $50 to spend on hair styling products at Folica.com.

From now until January 1st 1 in every 100 people who play to win great hear will win a $50 credit to spend instantly on hair care.

Folica.com has over 60,000 great hair products, more than 300 beloved brands and heaps of customer ratings and reviews.

I have really thick hair. Until I was about 21, I had one hair style. The ponytail.

At 21 I went short. Super short. Except for a brief 2 year period when I grew it back out, I have been going shorter and shorter ever since.

When I adopted the mohawk about a year ago, I had to get serious with the styling products.

I use a lot of hair products to keep my Mo in spikey delicious condition. I prefer mousse and/or gel combination. And sometimes hair wax.

The wrong combination of products leads to a wilty Mo. We don’t want a wilty Mo.

My body hair wish is to be as smooth as a baby seal. (Are they smooth? They look smooth.) I’m digging this Satin Smooth Waxing Starter Kit! Woohoo!

Too bad I’m not a swimmer. I would glide through that water with NO kinds of drag. Hoo-ah!

No matter your hair needs, Folica.com has the hair products for your case. Go take a look, and maybe win credit! High five!

Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Pastry Flour Chocolate Spice Cookies

December 7, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

Holiday baking is the bomb. Don’t be scared, you can make every dessert more nutritious, more delicious, and healthier than ever before by incorporating high-quality Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour s in your holiday spread!

Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour is 100% natural. Hodgson Mill products are straight from nature, with nothing added and nothing taken away!

We made these experimental CHOCOLATE SPICE COOKIES

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Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Hodgson Mills Whole Wheat Pastry flour
1 1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 1/2 tsp boiling water
1/4 cup sugar

Preparation:

Whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cocoa in a small bowl and set aside.

Beat together the margarine and brown sugar. Add the molasses and mix well. Add half of the flour mixture and the baking soda mixture and combine well. Add the rest of the flour mixture.

Chill, covered for at least one hour. Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees.

I made small balls of dough and rolled them in sugar before placing on the baking sheet. That turned out well, then I left the rest of the dough in the fridge for like a week, and thought “hey, why don’t I make gingerbread-esque people out of this?”

And I did. And it worked. Same dough.

Kids love it!

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Check out the Baker’s Holiday Gift Pack Sweepstakes and if you haven’t yet, grab this printable coupon good for $1 off any 5 lb. bag of Hodgson Mill Flour.