White Chocolate Panna Cotta with Raspberry Gelée (Recipe)

Oh, I have been dying to share this with you all! This month's Daring Baker's Challenge was to make a Panna Cotta and Florentine Cookies. Since Valentine's Day landed this month, I made my sweet treat for my love. He is a huge fan of both white chocolate and raspberries... so, my variation was born! Voila!

The recipe came from Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen. She chose the Panna Cotta from a Giada De Laurentiis' recipe and Nestle Florentine Cookies. The best part about this recipe was how simple it was to put together an amazing desert! This recipe is a keeper and we will be making it again soon.

You will need:

1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
1 tablespoon (15 ml) (7 gm) (¼ oz) unflavored powdered gelatin
2 cups (480 ml) whipping cream (30+% butterfat)
½ cup (115 gm) (4 oz) sugar
¾ cup (145 gm)(5 oz) white chocolate chips
½ teaspoon (2½ ml) vanilla extract

In a cold pan, dissolve the gelatin in your cold milk. This takes about 5 minutes.

In another saucepan, heat up the cream and remaining ingredients to a low boil. Whisk in the chocolate to the cream mixture. Then whisk in the gelatin mixture until everything is dissolved.

Pour this into your ramekins and chill for 8 hours or overnight. If you want to create the layered look, you will need to make your panna cotta and let it set up for 2 hours. Then make your gelee and let that cool and set up slightly. Gently layer and put back into the fridge. When it is completely cooled, another hour or so, add more panna cotta on top. You may need to slightly warm the mixture for it to pour. It is a little tricky, but worth the look!

The Nestle Florentine Cookies are from the Nestle website. Instead of milk chocolate, I filled mine with more melted white chocolate chips.

Yum! Whip this up and impress your family tonight. Enjoy!

Would I Be Missed? #MarsNeedsMoms

Nag, 

nag, 

naggidy nag. 

Some days I think this is all my children hear. I am a SAHM with two little ones I am desperately trying to keep in order. *Snort* I know, order may be subjective, but I am still doing my best to keep things clean, fun and healthy for them. This includes, time outs, naps and cleaning up when they would far rather be playing or making a mess.

March 11th is the release of  Disney's "Mars Needs Moms" and bloggers were asked what their children would miss if Mom was obducted by aliens.  So, here is my Top Ten:

1. Boo-boo kissing. Yes, Daddy can do this too, but moms have a special touch. When my husband is growing out a beard in the Winter, or isn't clean shaven my kids complain of the scruff. My little ones like to be kissed and soothed after head bonks or falls by me. I am not sure there is a good substitute, and I am happy to fill that role.

2. Snack Time.  I don't just offer an average mundane snack to my kiddos, I try to make it fun with faces and new foods and colors. And of course, I know exactly what my kiddos love to eat and when. Just call me the "Snack Whisperer".

3. Cuddles. Moms were build for cuddles. I am all soft and squishy in the right places and I am happy to sit and snuggle with my little ones for hours. From the beat of my heart, the sound of my breathing to the gentle touch of my hand rubbing their backs, I am always up for a good heart-warming cuddle.

4. Art Projects. I love breaking out the homemade modeling dough, or setting up long murals for us to design. Both of my children love showing their creativity and then proudly displaying it after. I think nurturing this creativity is one of my most important roles.

5. Dinner Projects. The kitchen is my domain. I am working with my toddler to let him help at meal time and he loves this special time with Mommy. We cook, we bake, we mix, we measure. Not only is it sharing my passion, but it is teaching my children important skills. We all get decked out with aprons and I have specail utensils just for the kiddos to use.

6. Crazy Dance Parties. This is best done during the day, or early in the morning while we are still in PJs. We have the Just Dance 2 game for our Wii, but I also love to just crank up my favorite tunes and bust a move! Both my kiddos love dancing with me and we all giggle and just move. I love the fact they are exercising, having fun and finding their own beat. This is one of the rare kooky things I do regularly with them.

7. Sing-Alongs. I know the theme song to every show my kids love! Yes, crazy, isn't it? We sing during the day, in the car and whenever it is appropriate. We also throw in some classic nursery rhymes, but we totally rock Dora, Wonder Pets and Bob the Builder. I am quite the cartoon diva!

8. Shopping Fun. I am definitely a fun shopper with the kids. We find the best deals, search for great new items and I can keep my kids smiling and giggling throughout. I think I have a major case of shop-fu.

9. Holiday Decorating. I am mama holiday in our house. It is my job to find, collect and display our holiday feelings and spirit. Whether I am MacGyver-ing some sort of homemade version or finding a simple way to achieve the look I want. I want my kids to enjoy the holiday feeling without it breaking the bank. But, I will leave no suitable wall or window behind. As a child I enjoyed coming downstairs to a festive looking house in the morning. Not just for Christmas and Halloween, but Easter and St. Patrick's Day as well. The kids love it, and I know they would miss the holiday excitement.

10. The Sound of my Voice. I think if I was abducted to Mars, my kiddos would miss the sound of my voice. It is the voice that soothes them when they don't feel well, and the soft whisper that reassures them back to sleep after a nightmare. My voice has the power to turn a worried face into a smile, stop a sibling fight, and praise an accomplishment. It is a great power to have, and I promise to only use it for good!

Okay, that is at least what I think my kiddos would miss. And what about you? Would your children miss you? ...of course they would, but why? I would love for you to share your thoughts as well.

*Disclaimer - 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.

Mamavation Monday ... Looking Forward

I can hardly believe that campaign 7 is coming to a close! 

Time has really been flying, and sweat has been 'a drippin'.

As I mentioned last week, after some soul searching, I decided I will be applying (again) for Mamavation Mom. I know, I swore I would last time, but I have had a change of heart. First off, I adore the current Mamavation Moms and am so glad they were chosen. They each did an amazing job and I think will continue to do so in the Sistahood. I have also enjoyed the accountability of these past weeks, but crave the professional guidance. I wish I had lost more and had learned more on this journey. I thought my DH would be against it, but he wasn't. So, here I come... naked in front of the class, yet again! (metaphorically, of course...)

Yes, this Mama has some lofty goals, but I will give them my all!

This past week was littered with illness and setbacks, but I still walked. I am more conscious of what I put into my mouth, and really want to succeed. I want to thank all my Sistas for the great love and support they have shown me. You gals are awesome.

 Sunday, yesterday, we did get up to the snow for some good old family fun! My 3 year old got his first Xcountry skis and he loves them. My daughter can travel in style with her ski trailer. Yes, you can't quite see her little face, but she is smiling!

I attempted to use RunKeeper Pro on my Droid for this also (first time I selected cross-country) and somehow it posted I went 78 miles? Ha! Looks like there are still some kinks to work out. We actually went just under 2 miles, but with my son skiing, that was awesome! I look forward to more trips as a family like this, and as my fitness level grows I hope to make the trips more challenging!

So, the moment of truth, the scale and pics for the Move it & Lose it Challenge:

Do you remember my "Before" pics? Well, here is my "After".

I still have a long way to my goal, but I am thankful to have been steadily losing. I have definitely noticed a difference in my pants, specifically my Mommy "pooch".

-1.6 pounds! Yay!

And my measurements are:

bust - 40" (1/16 - 41.5" 2/6 - 41.5" )

waist - 38 1/2"  (1/16 - 42.5" 2/6 - 41")

hips - 45.5 inches (1/16 - 48" 2/6 - 46")

thighs - 28 inches (1/16 - 29.5" 2/6 - no change)

arms -  13 inches (1/16 - 14" 2/6 - 13.5")
calves - 17 no change ( 1/16 - 17" 2/6 - no change)

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Mamavation.  Two blogging carnival participants will receive a Hydracoach.  Answer the following question in your blog post and link back to the Mamavation website.  Link up your post here to share with others.

Question: How do you encourage your children to contribute to your family’s healthy lifestyle?

 I have tried my best to make it part of the normal routine. At 10 am we go on a walk. Of course that means I am pushing my kiddos in a stroller, but they are good at reminding me it is time to go for our daily walk. They always hold me accountable. In the evenings we play Wii and the only games we have are active ones. My son loves dancing with me, and it has made our family more active in the evenings.

As for food, both mine are very young, but I still try to involve them in deciding what they want to eat and then in preparing some foods. I look forward to gardening with my son this Spring. I think it will help him take a greater interest in some other leafy greens when he helps me grow them.

Honestly I look forward to when they are older and can help us plan family outings, but until then I am trying to plant the seeds of movement and being healthy in their little brains.

*Disclaimer - This post is sponsored by Mamavation and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway.

I Don't Take Parenting Advice from Rachael Ray or Bethenny Frankel

Blogs and chat rooms are all abuzz about the February 8th episode of Rachael Ray. Why? Well, it sure wasn't her cooking! Did you catch the episode? Get up to speed HERE.

Bethenny Frankel, former Real Housewife of  NYC and star of reality show "Bethenny Ever After" was on spouting new Mother advice during an audience Q&A. She made some rather interesting comments about her breastfeeding rules, and now people on either side of the breastfeeding debate are up in arms. Yes, it is the same ugly debate, breastfeeding in public.

Bethenny is not what I would call an average, down-to-earth Mom. She is more of the high maintenance, superficial  and opinionated type. Those traits have created quite a character and brand for her, but I do not think they make her an expert on being a Mom. With Rachael Ray, a woman without children, backing up her attention getting opinions, it amounts to a whole lot of hot air. Bethenny urges the audience member to "Just keep it private" in regards to breastfeeding in public. She claims there is always a corner or backroom more appropriate than "whipping it out". And although she breastfed and pumped openly on her own show, she claims that unless you are Pamela Anderson you shouldn't do it. She goes as far to claim breastfeeding in public would be a good diet since folks would loose their appetite. What makes either of these women worth listening to on this topic? Well, nothing.

First of all, there are great nursing cover-ups, shirts or blanket that are often used to keep out distractions from the nursing baby, and keep unwanted attention off of the nursing Mother. And if covering is not a woman's thing, what is wrong with feeding a baby in a natural and healthy way? Have breasts become so overly sexualized and shameful that we have forgotten why we have them in the first place? I worry about the message this sends to young impressionable girls. And how can our society promote an activity it also discourages?

I proudly breastfed both of my children, and felt very fortunate to have the support of family with this very personal decision. I realize it is not right for everyone, but for those who can and do breastfeed there always comes a time when a Mother needs to nurse outside the home. With my son I was very self-conscious and often nursed in our car, dressing rooms or nursing lounges when they were available. But, honestly, it was tough. I did not want to nurse my son in public restrooms - I mean, ewww! But I was not talented enough to breastfeed like a ninja with my cover-ups. He was a major kicker, and loved to play peek-a-boo while he ate. With my daughter she was much calmer and I was more confident in my Mommy ninja skills.

When I heard about a local woman being asked to stop nursing in our public mall I was outraged! The newspaper article claimed that there was a provided nursing area and that the maintenance worker asked the Mom to move due to complaints from other patrons. This poor woman was distraught and eventually bashed online on the newspaper's website. The comment storm was heated and ugly. Many folks were outraged that she had not used this provided nursing lounge and of course added how inappropriate it is to nurse in public. My heart went out to this local woman I didn't even know. She was just trying to feed her baby. I also was shocked that our "mall" had a nursing area! How had I missed it? On our next visit my husband and I went everywhere trying to locate it. I finally asked a maintenance worker for help and was taken down several dark hallways and then locked in the employee breakroom!!! No joke. I was uncomfortable and angry. No woman should feel safe or obligated to nurse in a corner or "backroom" such as this.

Please do not take your Mothering advice from the likes of women such as Rachael Ray or Bethenny Frankel. If you are a breastfeeding Mom, know your rights according to your own state, and utilize resources such as The Le Leche League or check out  Medela 's site for tips and discussion boards to support nursing moms. Remember, we might not all be stacked like Pamela Anderson, but every Mom should be proud and comfortable feeding their baby!

*Disclaimer, This post is 100% my own opinions. I do participate as a Medela Mom Maven supporting breastfeeding Moms, but this is not sponsored or prompted by any events or companies.

Giveaway - Dress Up Your Eyes with Orglamix

Welcome to the next-generation of mineral makeup. With products made from zero synthetic ingredients,  Orglamix Cosmetics has become a huge sucess.  Orglamix is an Etsy shop that sells makeup made from 100% pure mineral. Cheri, the artisan behind Orglamix, never uses synthetic materials so you can be sure they are safe, especially for those of us with sensitive skin. Cheri says, “All Orglamix products are proudly formulated without: nano particles, bismuth oxychloride, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals or parabens. Orglamix is a proud member of PETA.”

What is more important, quality or value?  At Orglamix, they say both!  And that is exactly what you will get with every Orglamix product. Each product is of the highest quality and the greatest value compared to mega beauty brands.  The affordable prices will allow you room to try a variety of colors.  With over 200 choices, you are sure to find a few you love.

According to a recent survey: 99% of women who tried Orglamix said they’d recommend it to friends. But don't take their word for it.  Try Orglamix risk-free. They guarantee you will LOVE it or they will refund your money . Sign up for the Orglamix Newsletter to stay up-to-date on all upcoming promotions, sales, and new products.  Join them on Facebook for fun Beauty discussions, color challenges, and color of the week specials.

Orglamix is offering one reader the chance to try out this wonderful makeup! The lucky winner of this giveaway will be able to choose 3 colors from the Pure Organic Mineral Line of eye shadows.  Orglamix is also searching for a new color that will be Exclusive to the April Blogmania Giveaways.  We need your ideas.  Click HERE to be taken to another post where you can create your own color.  List your Color name idea and description for the exclusive Blogmania Color.  On March 5, we will chose the top 20 ideas and let you, the readers, vote on the winning color.  The winning color creator will win the new eyeshadow.  The rest of us will have to wait until Blogmania for the chance to win.  Blogmania will run from April 9 to April 10.  For more information visit www.breebee.com.

...and my personal experience with Orglamix?  I have Storm, Sky and Sage in my collection and love them! The colors are gorgeous and they go on so easily. I tend to melt other eye shadows right off, but this one lasts all day. I don't have a lot of cosmetics, and really try to make the items I do have count, so the fact I continue to use Orglamix products means a lot. Also, have you seen the huge selection of colors available? I promise, it is hard to choose just a few. From fun and glowing, to dark and sultry, there is a color (or 3 or 4!) for everyone. For these reasons I am so excited to offer up a giveaway to one lucky reader.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Mandatory:  To win your choice of 3 eye shadows, visit Orglamix and sign up for their Newsletter.

For optional extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment after you complete the mandatory entry above:

• Follow my Blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry) 
• Subscribe via email. Be sure you confirm your subscription in email. (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here and to Orglamix (5 entries)
• Enter any of my other current giveaways. See full listing on the right. (1 entry each)
• Enter this on a Giveaway Linky & leave a link (5 entries for each Linky!)
• Follow me on Twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (2x per day at least 2 hrs apart) Feel free to use:

"Color Your World, Naturally. #Win your choice of 3 Orglamix eye shadows @notimeMom  http://bit.ly/fmK4pk :: ends 3/9 #giveaway Pls RT"  Please include the URL (1 entry per tweet)

• Which 3 colors would you choose if you won?

This giveaway will end March 9th.

Disclosure: This giveaway is open only to individuals who are 18 years of age or older. Giveaway open to residence of the US and Canada only.  Those involved in the production, development or implementation of giveaways, any agents acting for, or on behalf of the above entities, their respective parent companies, affiliates, licensees, and any other person or entity associated with Orglamix are not eligible.  One win per ninety days.  Void where prohibited by law.  Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Aloha Friday #51

Welcome to Friday Everyone! In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy and look forward to the weekend. I feel like I am experiencing the calm before the storm of the holiday. Let's sit back, relax and enjoy a little blog hop. No heavy mental lifting today... just one simple little question...

Do You Have Any Oscar Favorites?

It is time for the Academy Awards, yet again. There have been a lot of movies, many great actors and some spectacular special affects, costumes and music. So, do you have any early picks for winners? Or who you think should win? I am sorry to say that I haven't had a chance to see many of the nominees this year, but I am guessing The King's Speech will win best picture, and Toy Story 3 will take the animated category. As for actors? No clue on the men, but I am rooting for Natalie Portman. So, what are your predictions?

If you are looking for more Aloha Friday fun, go to An Island Life and check out the other posts on the Linky. Have a great weekend!

*Image from FrogstarB on Flikr

Giveaway - The Life of the Party! Eco-Foil Pans

(CLOSED)

I bake, I cook, but when it comes to taking my food to a party or dropping off a meal for a new Mommy or sick friend I don't want to hassle with hunting down my dirty dishes. Do you? I would much rather transport my delicious dish in a disposable container and be done with it.

Okay, not so great for the environment. Mmm... that is a dilemma...

I was asked to review Eco-Foil pans, and when I found out they are made with 100% recycled products and are recyclable after use, and made in the USA? well, goodbye guilt and hello party food!

I was sent a selection of their pans including a large roasting pan and two different sized sets of Cook-n-Carry pans with lids. Always looking for an excuse to bake, I set out to make a Tres Leches Cake. I sprayed the pan before use and was pleased with the outcome.

My cake baked evenly, I loved the accompanying lids and of course clean-up was a dream. What makes this product even better is that it fits into my greener lifestyle. Once used, when I recycle this pan it will be made into yet another baking pan, or roaster. 100% of my recycled pan will be used to create yet another pan, and then another in what is called "closed loop recycling". So, my one little pan can reduce my carbon footprint and help me set a good example for my little ones.

Overall I was very happy with the baking pan. It was durable enough for me to take the cake out and then put back in. I would have no trouble taking these to parties or other gatherings. Next up I will be trying out the broiler pans, stay tuned for more recipes to be posted on that. I have found the Eco-Foil pans in several stores here in my small hometown, so look around for Eco-Foil in your neck of the woods. Reasonably priced, these green alternatives are a great choice.

Connect with Eco-Foil on Facebook for a store locator and current promotions.

Would you like to try these pans out for yourself?

I have 3 variety packs to give away (3 winners!) Each winner's pack will include 2 King Roaster Pans, 4 13x9 cake pans, and 6 small square cake pans (up to a $30 value).

GIVEAWAY TIME!

• Mandatory Entry Leave a comment on Eco-Foil's Facebook page with something you learned about their products, or what you would like to make in their product. Please leave your user name in a comment here for credit.
  
  For optional extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment after you complete the mandatory entry above:

• Follow my Blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry) 
• Subscribe via email. Be sure you confirm your subscription in email. (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway with a link back here and to http://www.eco-foilpans.com/ (5 entries)
• Enter any of my other current giveaways. See full listing on the right. (1 entry each)
• Enter this on a Giveaway Linky & leave a link (5 entries for each Linky!)
• Follow me on Twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (2x per day at least 2 hrs apart) Feel free to use:

"Bake and Take without the hassel! #Win an Eco-Foil prize pack @notimeMom (3 winners!) http://bit.ly/hM4tzw :: ends 3/7 #giveaway Pls RT"  Please include the URL (1 entry per tweet)

• What do you like most about the Eco-Foil products?

Open to the US. Please leave a separate comment for each entry to get full credit. Giveaway ends on March 7th at 11:59 pm PST. A winner will be chosen via Random.org. and will be emailed. They will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

*Eco-Foil provided me with free samples of this product for review purposes. No monetary compensation was involved and all opinions are my own. Prize packs will be sent directly from the sponsor and I am not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items, or if the sponsor fails to fulfill their obligation.

Giveaway - Tropical Traditions Coconut Hair Treatment

As a busy Mom, I get a chance to pamper myself at a spa... well, once in a blue moon. So I am always looking for home treatments for those rare times when I can get a "me moment". After many months of simple ponytails, my neglected tresses are dying for some help. I was more than happy to review Tropical Traditions

 Suggested uses are for dry scalp and as a hair conditioner. Just use a small amount directly on your hair and scalp. Easy to use and all natural, it contains only 100% Organic Virgin Coconut.

I just love the smell of coconut and being able to rub it all over in my hair sounds like a dream come true. Coconut hair treatments have been used for years in both India and the Philippines and this treatment is made especially for use on hair. I have curly, or rather frizzy hair. It dries out easily and I try to do deep conditioning treatments when I have time. I first tried this as a hair conditioner, applying it after I shampooed. Although my hair was soft and shiny, it was hard to rinse out and left my hair a little weighed down.

The next time I tried it, I used it sparingly a half hour before my shower. I wrapped my head in a warm towel and then washed it out with my normal hair washing. Of course there was no need to condition afterwards. Bingo! My curly hair was less frizzy, but still had a nice bounce to it. And did I mention that I love the coconut smell?

Would you like to have your own container of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Hair Treatment?

 BUY IT 

Purchase your own Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil Hair Treatment on tropicaltraditions.com - 1 pint (16 FL. oz.) - glass jar
Retail: $25.00   

Now! - $19.95

GIVEAWAY TIME!

• Mandatory Entry Subscribe by email via Feedburner (right hand side) You need to confirm your subscription in your email.
  
  For optional extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment after you complete the mandatory entry  above:

• Follow my Blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry) 
• Subscribe to Tropical Traditions' Sales Newsletter (1 entry)
• Follow Tropical Traditions on twitter (@Troptraditions) (1 entry)
• Enter this on a Giveaway Linky & leave a link (5 entries for each Linky!)
• Follow me on Twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (2x per day at least 2 hrs apart) Feel free to use:

"Pamper yourself with  @Troptraditions Coconut Oil Hair Treatment @notimeMom http://bit.ly/gBJptO :: ends 3/12 #giveaway Pls RT!" Please include the URL (1 entry per tweet)

• Is there another product you would like to try? (Tropical Traditions)

Open to the US. Please leave a separate comment for each entry to get full credit. Giveaway ends on March 12th at 11:59 pm PST. A winner will be chosen via Random.org. and will be emailed. They will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

*Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Tres Leches Cake = More Please! {Recipe}

Cake... chocolate, vanilla, spice or carrot? Oh, no. This one trumps them all. Ridiculously rich and delicious I had to have my DH take the remainder out of the house. This was one temptation I would not want to resist...

Tres Leches Cake with Homemade Dulce De Leche

You will need:

• 1 cup All-purpose Flour
• 1-½ teaspoon Baking Powder
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• 5 whole Eggs
• 1 cup Sugar, Divided
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• ⅓ cups Milk
• 1 can Evaporated Milk
• 1 can Sweetened, Condensed Milk
• ¼ cups Heavy Cream
• 1-2 tablespoons rum (optional)
•  
• 1 can dulce de leche - made by simmering 1 can of condensed milk for 3-4 hours in a pan of water. Poke holes in your can to avoid any messes.
•  

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.

Separate the eggs and put the egg yolks into a bowl and beat with 3/4 c. sugar till fluffy. Add in the milk and vanilla, then add this mixture to the dry ingredients. In another bowl beat the egg whites till they start to stiffen, then add the remaining 1/4 c. sugar. Then gently fold this into the other mixture.

Put the cake mix into a greased 9x12 cake pan. I used an Eco Foil pan that I sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake for 20- 25 minutes. Test with a toothpick, it should come out clean and the cake should be pulling away from the sides. Let it cool and after  20 minutes take it out of the pan to cool on a wire rack.

Mix up the milks. In a large pitcher or pyrex measuring cup, add the evaporated milk, condensed milk and cream. Set aside.

Place your cake on a large plate or platter. I made a foil container to hold the liquid in. Then with a fork, poke holes in your cake. Pour a good cup of the milk mixture over the cake. It will sop it up in a few minutes. Let it sit for at least an hour and then top with your dulce de leche. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Giveaway - Dotmine Planners To The Rescue!

I know that Pregnancy Brain was supposed to end after giving birth, right? Well, where is the warning about Mommy Brain? Between the late nights and early mornings, (I was blessed with both an early riser and night owl!), doctor's appointments, family engagements and pesky little necessities like haircuts... I am a mess! No, really. I have lists, scraps of paper, phone reminders, you name it and I have tried it. My tech savvy husband has tried, and failed, to help me out. I really love pen and paper planners.

Sadly, I haven't had a good one since college. I expect a lot out of my planners... I mean, I trust them with my life, right? Recently I heard about Dotmine Planners. Oh, boy! I had to try one for myself.

dotmine offers a wide range of planners for Moms, Dads, Students and Generation X. Choose between the Life_Time.Mine,  Family_Time.Mine, or Time.Mine collection. I chose a flirty design from their Mom collection called, "Ditzy Flowers". Fitting, right?


That is it in the graphic on the right. I am very pleased with the cover design. The flowers are feminine and fun, but not childish. It is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" so it fits easily into my diaper bag. Spiral bound for durability, this 17-month planner is a dream come true.

For each season there is a Master Planning Schedule, then a full month calendar, and a section for daily notes with tear off margins for those important notes and lists. The cover has pockets for loose papers and there are also calendar stickers included for marking special occasions. Since I love lists, the tear-off sheets will come in very handy for shopping or projects.

Started in 2000 by two busy ladies trying to reclaim their lives, the company's philosophy is to:

 create fashionable, functional and affordable day planners to help individuals and families organize busy lives. We start with great art … fun, elegant and sometimes funky. Then, we arrange and design the contents of our planners to serve families, students and professionals.

I personally enjoy the pen & paper approach to making and crossing off lists, so this planner is perfect for me and my family. If you are looking for a great new planner to break you out of your "Mommy Brain" fog, why not give dotmine planners a try! Buy your own on Amazon.com, Borders.com or directly from dotmine planners site.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

1 of my readers will win their choice of dotmine planner (excluding Border's exclusive designs).

Mandatory Entry: Please visit the dotmine site and leave a comment with the planner you would choose if you won.

For optional extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a separate comment for each entry after  the mandatory entry is completed:

• Follow via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Subscribe via email, be sure to confirm in your email. (1 entry)
• Follow @timemine on twitter (1 entry)
• Comment on any non-giveaway post on my blog. (1 entry per comment)
•  Enter another current giveaway on my blog. (1 entry per giveaway entered)
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to http://adventuresinallthingsfood.blogspot.com/ & http://timemine.com/ (5 entries)

• Follow me on twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (limit 2 tweets a day) Be sure to leave the tweet URL in your comment. (1 entry/tweet) Feel free to use:

Get Organized! #Win your choice of dotmine planner @notimeMom @timemine http://bit.ly/factJ2  :: ends 3/2

*Disclaimer - This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was provided with a planner in order to write my honest review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own. This giveaway ends midnight 3/2 PST. Winner will be selected via random.org and contacted by email. The winner will have 48 to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Prize ships directly from the sponsor and I am not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items, or failure of the sponsor to fulfill prize obligations.

Wordless Wednesday - It Feels as Good as it Tastes

Food is a lot of fun at 18 months old...

...and, why not?

Did Someone Say Meatballs? - Recipe

Mmmm... there is nothing like a meatball to top off a plate of spaghetti. Did you sing the meatball song as a child?

On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.

I can tell you that these little beauties are nothing to sneeze at...

Okay, you could buy frozen meatballs... but really, making your own is not only easy but much tastier! So, shall we get started?

You will need:  
2/3 c milk
1 large egg
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. panko or torn bread
3/4 lb ground beef
3/4 lb ground pork
1 medium onion, grated
3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley
fresh cracked pepper (optional)

First combine the milk, egg, salt and bread crumbs. Let this sit for 10 minutes to soak in. Then add the remaining ingredients. I use a small cookie ball scoop to form uniform meatballs. See them sitting all nice and pretty on my baking tray? Line your baking tray with wax paper for quick and easy clean up.

See how easy that was? Mmmm... if you are wondering about the cheese, it adds a nice flavor without overtly screaming "cheese in the meatball".  Now take a nonstick skillet with a touch of oil, and brown them up.

When they are all browned I  throw some to simmer in my spaghetti sauce, and also leave some on the baking tray to freeze for future meals. If you want to eat them alone, pop them in the oven for a few minutes to ensure they are cooked through.

For freezing, put the entire tray in your freezer and once they are frozen, then separate them into freezer bags. This allows me to separate out several meals worth and grabbing a bag to simmer with my sauce is easy as pie! Enjoy!

Giveaway & Review - EIO Kids Cup

I am drowning in sippy cups. One full cabinet and an overflow box for the cups that didn't make the cut, so why did I agree to review another kids cup? Well, the EIO Kids Cup promised to be different, smart and age appropriate for my kids.

I was sent a EIO Kids Cup in purple and was very excited. No valve to lose or clean, just 3 simple parts. An 8 oz. glass canning jar, a silicone sleeve for a better grip on the plastic bottle, and a BPA free cap.

Simple!

This was one moment that I thought, wow, glad someone thought of this. I am a big fan of glass because it is easy to clean, long lasting and recyclable when all else fails. When my son was born 3 years ago and there were whispers about BPA we purged our house of most plastics. For the kids I preferred glass baby bottles, and now mix their medical formula (for their PKU) in glass bottles. Oh, did I mention I store our dry goods in glass mason jars? Very economical and simple to replace. And, toss them on the top rack of your dishwasher for easy clean up... yes, the cap and sleeve, too.

This cup is designed for children over the age of 2, but the American Dental Association recommends children over the age of one drink from a cup without a valve for better dental development. This cup has also been endorsed by speech pathologists since it promotes proper articulation and development. I don't know about you, but I have to keep replacing cups with straws and spouts because both my children chew on them. Ahem, just ordered more, in fact before doing this review!

My son has a very strict diet and his daily "milk" (medical formula for PKU) he must drink throughout the day. I also supplement occasional smoothies and his drinkable yogurt to keep his phe within acceptable levels. Smoothies are usually a mess since they don't always work well with valves and straws. Cleaning them is a headache after, and open cups are still a recipe for disaster with this 3 year old.  This cup was perfect!  He needed to be reminded where the opening was at first, but now we haven't had a spill with it. We have used it every day since it arrived, and now I need to order more! We also tried it with my daughter, but at 18 months,  she still had some trouble. She didn't point the opening towards her mouth and when she threw it back, it spilled down her. With some practice I know she will master it also.

Overall I think this is the perfect way to transition my son to a grown up cup. Truly I can't wait to do away with all plastic cups in our home and this allows me to get them used to glass without all the worries of breakage. I know the cup can break, but canning jars are pretty durable and the silicone sleeve on the outside helps to cushion drops and bangs. If it chips or breaks, canning jars are so easy to replace!

Order your own EIO Kids Cup today in purple, orange or green for $15.00.
think of how many sippy or valve cups that will eliminate... add up the cost of replacements for 3+ years, and I think it is reasonable. A good investment for sure.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I have one EIO Kids Cup to give away in the winner's choice of color.

Mandatory Entry is easy! Please tell me something else you learned from the eiokidscup.com site.

For optional extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment letting me know after you do the mandatory entry mentioned above:

• Follow via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Subscribe via email, be sure to confirm in your email. (1 entry)
• Take another entry if you already a fan of EIO Products on Facebook (1 entry)
• Comment on any non-giveaway post on my blog. (1 entry per comment)
• Follow @EIOkidscup on twitter

• Follow me on twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (limit 2 tweets a day) Be sure to leave the tweet URL in your comment. (1 entry/tweet) Feel free to use:

The Sippy Solution - EIO Kids Cup #Giveaway @EIOkidscup @notimeMom http://bit.ly/eEapPh  :: ends 3/10



  * From The Journal of the American Dental Association, Vol. 135, No 3, 387.
* Disclaimer - Open to the US only. I was sent a sample cup for review purposes, no monetary compensation was involved. All opinions are my own. Giveaway ends 3/10. Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have 48 hours to reply with their shipping information.The giveaway item will be shipped from the company.

Winner! Celebrating Love Giveaway

This giveaway had low entries, but I am sure the lucky winner will enjoy her new book from 1-800-Flowers. Out of 17 entrires, lucky #6 won:

Tara V. said...

daily tweet #2 http://twitter.com/#!/FabGiveaways/status/38813523333091328

February 18, 2011 8:14 PM

Congrats to Tara! She will have 48 hours to respond to my confirmation email or another winner will be drawn. Remember, if you didn't win, you can still enter my other current giveaways:

$25 Movies on Demand GC
Lawhorn's Seasoning + $25 Amazon GC

Giveaway - ATTN: Movie Fans - #moviesondemand

Before you sit down to hear, "And the winner is..." at the Academy Awards wouldn't it be nice to catch up on all those nominated movies? Then you will be ready to let your inner critic show...

    Everyone’s a Critic :30 Commercial

Let Movies on Demand help you catch up and get ready for award season this year. Before the awards on February 27th, many of the nominees will be available with Movies on Demand (MOD). Catch titles such as:

• The Social Network
• Inception
• Toy Story 3
• The Kids Are All Right
• Winter's Bone
• How to Train Your Dragon
• The Town
• Unstoppable
• Salt
• Also catch two different selections of nominated short films

View these titles through digital cable, watch it instantly with the ability to pause, fast forward, and rewind.

You will want to connect with Movies on Demand on their Facebook Page and catch their current "How Many Have You Seen" poll. Movies on Demand on Cable just launched this brand new Facebook app which lets you keep track of all the nominated flicks you've seen - and which ones you still need to catch! You could even win big with a 3D HDTV for you picking out all the nominees you've watched. Just "Like" their Facebook page and check out the app. http://www.facebook.com/moviesondemand

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I have a $25 Movies on Demand Gift Card to give away to one lucky reader.

Mandatory Entry is easy! Subscribe to this blog via email. Be sure to confirm your subscription in your email for this to count. I will verify all entries.

For optional extra entries, do any or all of the following and leave a comment letting me know after you do the mandatory entry mentioned above:

• Follow via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Try out the "How Many Have You Seen?" App and list one movie you still need to watch
• Who is your favorite Oscar nominee? (movie or actor)
• Comment on any non-giveaway post on my blog. (1 entry per comment)

• Follow me on twitter (@notimeMom) & tweet about this giveaway. (limit 2 tweets a day) Be sure to leave the tweet URL in your comment. (1 entry/tweet) Feel free to use:

Catch up on Oscar buzz movies. $25 Movies on Demand GC #Giveaway @notimeMom http://bit.ly/eOMylA  :: ends 3/10 #moviesondemand


* Disclaimer - Open to the US only. This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media.  I was compensated for my participation and time investment involved with this campaign. Thoughts are my own. Giveaway ends 3/10. Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have 48 hours to reply with their shipping information.

Mamavation Monday ... Dedication

It isn't always about doing what I want to, 

but what I need to.

Another week... and my motivation was lagging. After a week of not losing weight, my family became sick and instead of progressing I felt like I was cleaning up, comforting and caring for others to the point of exhaustion. Of course as my workouts slipped and the bad snacks crept in, I felt worse. So on Thursday, despite the unusual snowfall in our little valley, I decided to remind myself about the big "D"... Dedication.

Success to me is a product of both hard work and dedication. Without both components it really isn't success... if I get lucky and lose weight but didn't work for it, there is always the chance I could have lost more... and without dedication I am not sure the weight will stay off. So I am back to the basics: pedometer, meal plan, water, workouts and sweat. I need to succeed for myself as well as my family.

MILI Challenge - Okay, after last week being rather disappointing I was hoping things would be better...

From last week (199.8 lbs) That is -1.6 lbs... and from 2 weeks ago (198.6 lbs) that is still -.4 lbs.
I'll take it!!

This Week's Recipe Share is for Egg Cups

I originally made these years back from the South Beach Diet cookbook. They are very simple and I can make a bunch up and save the rest to grab for the remainder of the week. I know I will be getting my veggies and protein with these.

you will need:

12 muffin tins & foil papers (or spray your tins with nonstick spray)

4 eggs

1/2 yellow onion

1 clove of garlic, minced or grated

1/2 a package of frozen spinach, thawed

chopped mushrooms

chopped ham or Canadian bacon

A dash of milk

Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Salt & pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your muffin tins or spray them to prevent the eggs from sticking.

Chop the onion and add to a saute pan with a little olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and sweat these down till the onions are translucent. Add the garlic for an additional minute and then stir in the spinach and chopped meat. Warm the mixture through. In a separate bowl beat the eggs and add a dash of milk. Fill each muffin tin 1/2 - 2/3 full of the spinach mixture. There may be some left over.  With a ladle or cup, divide the egg mixture evenly between the 12 cups. You can top with a little Parmesan Cheese and seasoning.

Bake for 20 minutes.I let them cool completely and put them in a freezer bag to either freeze or keep in the fridge for other mornings. Enjoy!

____________________________

This week, Rebecca (@MomRuns26) is  Sista of the week. Woo-hoo! Way to go Rebecca.

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Fit Studio.  One blogging carnival participant will receive a Fitness Basket with Weider PowerSwitch Adjustable 25 lb. Hand Weight, 65 cm Fitness Ball, and Sportline Elite Fitness Pedometer..  Answer the following question in your blog post and link back to the Fit Studio website.  Link up your post here to share with others.

Question: What motivates you to get going and what keeps you going?

 
My children are my biggest motivators and the real reason why I want to lose this weight and become healthier. Honestly, the rest of my Mamavation Sistas have played a huge role in keeping me going. Without all the added support and encouragement I might have already given up. But, each day I check in on twitter, or read a fellow Mamavation Sista's blog I am pushed to keep going... and I am so happy to be part of a group that has such a positive influence in my life.

*Disclaimer - This post is sponsored by SEARS FitStudio and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Sears. All opinions expressed are my own.