Giveaway - 2 Free Gorton's Frozen Seafood Items

I love fish! I lived in Japan for 4 years and basically ate my weight in Seafood many times over. Now that I reside stateside, it is harder for me to find good fresh fish.

That is why I enjoy Gorton's Frozen Seafood. I can keep it in my freezer ready to go for dinner. No fresh fish to mess with, no smell. It is one of my few "fast food" or cheat items.

If traditional fish sticks are not your thing, check out the other great entrees available such as Shrimp, Salmon and All Natural Grilled Fillets... to name a few of my favorites.

How do I use my All Natural Grilled Fillets? Well, I just love fish tacos. It gives me a chance to serve a lean protein wrapped up with a whole party of veggies! That is one of my last-minute go-to-dinners.

Okay, have I gushed enough? You might be surprised to hear that this post is not sponsored... it is not compensated. I really enjoy the convenience of this product and was fortunate enough to win a bunch of coupons in a giveaway. So, I want to share these with one lucky reader.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

One lucky reader will win 2 coupons for their own Free Frozen Seafood Item of choice. 

Sorry, the coupons are good in the US only.

 

Mandatory Entry is easy! Just follow my blog via Google Friend Connect. Be sure to leave your username in the comments section for me (1 entry)

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:

• Subscribe via email, be sure to confirm in your email. (1 entry)
• Enter any of my other current giveaways (1 entry for each)
• Comment on any non-giveaway post on my blog. (1 entry per comment)
• Vote for "notimeMom" to be a Mamavation Mom  (2 entries)

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

#Win Gorton's Frozen Seafood for dinner tonight from @notimeMom http://bit.ly/fP0BBL (ends 4/10) #Giveaway

*Disclaimer - I won these coupons in a giveaway. No compensation was received for posting this. Winner must be 18 years of age or older. Winner will be drawn via random.org and contacted via email. Winner will have 48 to respond and claim the prize. If not, I will redraw for a new winner. Giveaway ends 4/10 at 11:59 pm PST.

Aloha Friday #55

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...

What is Your Favorite Easter Treat?

 

Marshmallow Peeps? Cadbury Eggs? Jell-O Eggs? ... or something else? I am looking for ideas as I plan my April activities and treats. I want to know what your favorite is.

I have chocolate molds at the ready to attempt my own filled chocolate eggs this year, and lots of sprinkles and adornments to really go cupcake crazy, but I am always looking for more inspiration.

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!

#UBP11 Is Here! Let the Mingling Begin.

It's Baaack! And I am ready to Par-Tay!

Ultimate Blog Party is brought to us by Susan & Janice of 5 Minutes for Mom!

My name is Andrea and this is my little blog. I am a SAHM to two little ones who keep me on my toes!
Here in Oregon we love the outdoors, we grow our own food on the farm, and we also love to play with our food.

Oh, where are my manners? Grab an hors devour, a drink and stay for a bit. While you are looking around, be sure to check out some of my favorite recipes:

•  How about these Nutella Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream Frosting
• Or these Cranberry Orange Muffins?
• Or a Bowl of Roasted Beef, Barley & Mushroom Soup?

 I love food and am always looking for good recipes to share with my readers and scratch cooking and baking are my passion. We live next to the family farm and are always looking for new and delicious ways to use the fresh fruits and vegetables available.

Though much of our life revolves around food... there is so much more to this blog. I am a Mom with little kids, so the fun and insanity just never seems to stop! I love sharing pictures and moments. But we also enjoy trying out new products, posting reviews and of course, throwing in a giveaway or two as garnish!

Be sure to check out my current giveaway listing on the right sidebar. A few with low entries include:

• EA Sports Active for the Wii (4/4)
• $25 Amazon Gift Card (4/4)
• Gorton's Frozen Seafood Giveaway (4/10)

Besides these, Blogmania is coming up April 9th - 11th. Each participating blog will have a prize package worth at least $100 dollars! Easy entries, so mark your calendar and stop back by.

Also follow  me in my weight loss journey. I am excited to be a Finalist for Mamavation Mom campaign #8 and am looking for more votes to win one of two spots. I have 70 more pounds to lose and could use the dietary, fitness and life coaching offered in the program.

Please take a minute during your blog hopping to vote for "notimeMom" http://bit.ly/geB3Y8. Just two quick clicks! No sign-up or hassle.
The winners will be announced at the Mamavation twitter party 4/4.

...and for even more fun... GirlGoneMom.com is giving away a $25 SUBWAY gift card and I have entered to win it.  Check out her UBP11 post here. 

Blogmania Sponsor Spotlight: Mabel's Lables

Kids are "stuff" magnets.

What no one told me was how much "stuff" having kids would bring. Not only that, but you make new friends who have kids. To every playdate, dinner and party they are also lugging around their own share of  "stuff". Everyone has the same "stuff"! Ahhhh!

Thank goodness there are better, and fashionable, ways to label all that "stuff".

As a child I remember either a black sharpie being applied to my things, or a piece of masking tape across the bottom. Thank goodness Mabel's Labels has me and my cute little girl covered.

I was sent a great set of Label Out Loud Sticky Lables to review.

Choose the name, up to 20 characters, and the design from 20 different motifs. I chose the butterfly for my little one. They are bright and fun. I was quick to label her favorite sippy cup. This line is:

• Dishwasher safe
• Microwave safe
• UV resistant
• Peel and stick

 Don't worry, Mabel's Labels has you covered as in other areas, too. From clothing, skinny labels, bag tags, household labels, etc. There is something for all of your labeling needs.


I am excited to have Mabel's Labels as one of my Blogmania Sponsors (April 9-11). One of my lucky readers will receive a set like mine from the Label Out Loud Stick Labels with the name and motif of your choice ($21 value).

Connect with Mabel's Labels online

On twitter: @mabelhood
on Facebook : Mabel's Labels 
and on their blog: http://www.mabelhood.com/ 

Don't forget to follow or subscribe to my blog so you don't miss out on all the great giveaways (Blogmania & beyond!) coming up.

Blogmania Sponsor Spotlight: Orglamix

Whether you wear makeup everyday, or just for special occaisions, take care with what you put on your face. I am very picky about what I buy and use, and have been a customer, myself, of Orglamix for over a year. What is Orglamix?

Orglamix is an Etsy shop that sells makeup made from 100% pure mineral.  Orglamix, mineral makeup contains absolutely no synthetic ingredients! Yes, even the dyes are synthetic free, and Orglamix is PETA approved! Okay, so it is safe and natural, but what about selection? Well, take a peak at their core selection of eye shadows HERE.

And special for Blogmania (April 9-11), the owner is offering an exclusive color called "Champagne Bubbles".  Would you like to win your own Orglamix eye shadow to try? My Blogmania winner will win their own "Champagne Bubbles" along with a choice of 2 colors from the Pure Organic Mineral Line of eye shadow.

Be sure to follow my blog (publicly) and subscribe now so you don't miss out on this and many other great projects in my Blogmania Prize Package.

*Disclaimer - I received 3 free eye shadows to test out from Orglamix. I have also been a customer of theirs in the past. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Ragú® Mom's the Word on Dinner

"I'm not hungry", ""I"m busy", "I want mac n' cheese!" Those are just a few of the things I hear around dinner time. 

 Trying to keep up with the demands of two picky toddlers and a family full of varying tastes, it can be a stressful chore in my day. I love to cook, but I dread keeping everyone happy. Moms everywhere face nightly challenges of all shapes and sizes. We have all been there and that is why Ragú® is launching "Mom's the Word on Dinner," an online community on Facebook for moms to laugh, learn and share their take on what is really happening at dinnertime.

Ragú® is teaming up with some familiar faces for this, including some of the fabulous ladies of Momversation. This is going to be a place to share stories and tips, celebrate those little victories (what new foods or veggies were you able to get your kiddos to eat last night?), and have a good laugh. Each month look for topics ranging from dinner discussions, picky eaters, healthy meal tips, as well as information from parenting expert and author, Dr. Michele Borba and Registerd Dietician, Dr. Felicia Stoler. Also check out the site for videos, photos, polls and dinner ideas complete with easy recipes.

I don't know about your family, but mine loves their spaghetti night! It is nice to know that Ragú® Old World Style Traditional Pasta Sauce provides two full servings of veggies in every half cup. That gives this Mom of two little ones something to be excited about!

Of course, this wouldn't be a good community without interaction from Moms like us. Tell Ragú® all about dinnertime in your house for a chance to be featured in a Ragú® ad in PEOPLE magazine at Facebook.com/ragusauce. 

*Disclaimer - I was entered for a chance to win a Ragú® prize package in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.

lkjhlkjlkj

Wordless Wednesday - The Look

It is scary when,  your toddler can pull off the look...

...he smiles for the camera...

Or how sad he gets when he can't have his way...

But when he sleeps, he is my little angel once again.

Have a great Wednesday!

If you have a moment, please got to the Mamavation Voting Page and vote for "notimeMom". It ends 4/4 and I am hoping to be one of two Moms chosen for campaign 8 bootcamp. Thanks!

Wilton & Cupcakes Are a Good Combination!

For the past few weeks I have been taking Wilton's Decorating Basics class at my local Michael's. This week my cupcake post is just on the decorating side. This first class works with buttercream. Next month I will be taking the royal icing Flowers and Cake Design class.

I used simple vanilla bean cupcakes for this project and filled them with a Cool Whip and strawberry jam mousse.This was my first attempt at using Wilton's tip 230 for filling. Usually I cut out a cone to fill. This was definitely much faster.

I used both a thin consistency buttercream for frosting the cupcakes and the petals and a medium consistency for all of the flowers.

The cupcakes were delicious, but did not steal the show. That was reserved for the decorations!

For the base frosting (thin) I used the 1M tip with the large coupler. Starting at the outside working in, it is a fast and nice way to decorate the cupcakes. I still love my Dessert Decorator Plus for pure convenience.

We first made our Pompom flower. The illustration on Wilton's site is much prettier than mine. We created them on our Flower Nail and a square of parchment paper with tip 12 and tip 18 for practicing. I have to say that I would rather create it directly on the cupcake next time. I lost my outer ring when I attempted to transfer it over.

I think they look like firework bursts from the top! I might modify them for that purpose in the future.

Next we worked on our leaves with our thin consistency icing. Tip 352 was used, it resembles an open bird beak. Leaves were simple, but will take more practice to get them smooth and consistent.

The flowers were both drop flowers. Both the star flower and swirled flowers were easy and very pretty. The take the 2D tip. I will be making several of these ahead of time for next week's final cake project.

We also made rosettes with tip 18, shells with tip 21, and worked with tip 233 (the grass tip) to create a shaggy mum. Mine was flatter than shaggy, but I plan on practicing more with this tip for my Easter cupcakes.

I call this my Peacock cupcake. What do you think? Well, it was a lot of fun. Now I need to brainstorm ideas for my final project using a combination of these techniques. And next month? Well, I will be diving head first into Flowers and Cake Design.

If you are looking for more cupcake fun, check out Cupcake Tuesday:  



*Disclaimer - I received no compensation for this post. I signed up for the class and am sharing my experience with products I have purchased.

Easter - Bring on the Eggs!

I love holidays! As a Mother they mean so much more to me since I get to share the fun and excitement with my children. I want to make each one special for them. Since my kids are young, every year I am creating new traditions for my family. I am excited to share some of my family's favorite traditions with you from a Social Moms prompt sponsored by Universal Pictures in honor of HOP, in theaters April 1st.

This year we will be doing a variety of activities. This is the first year that we will attempt dying eggs. My son is 3 and with a lot of towels and preparation, I think we can tackle coloring our eggs. Have you seen the egg kit selection these days? As a child we dyed our eggs with the standard kit. I only remember there being one available at the drugstore. If we wanted to live on the wild side, we would use white crayons before we colored them.

Now? I waded through a whole isle of egg decorating possibilities the other week. From glitter to stencils and stickers, it is a great time to be decorating Easter eggs. I am going to start simple... some washable markers (easier on the laundry), simple egg dyes, cups and dipping spoons. Nothing fancy, but I bet it will still be magical to my children.

Since we now have a yard and grass, this year I am really looking forward to the big Easter Egg Hunt. Who doesn't love the thrill of the hunt? Give a child a bucket and set them loose. My son was a pro last year. The year before he was excited to find the eggs, but then didn't know what do with them. He tried to help his friends load up their baskets while his was still empty. This will be my daughter's first time doing it, and I am so excited to see what she thinks of it!

And then the whole day will wrap up a family dinner complete with Jell-O eggs. I remember them from my childhood. Simple, fun and yummy! I love how the best traditions are often the simplest. Served with a dollop of Cool Whip, they were a great end to a fun day. This year I will be putting a different spin on them though. I have silicone baking cups that look like terracotta pots. I am going to bake cupcakes in them and then with a Wilton grass tip, make a bed to hold each brightly colored Jell-O egg. I think it will be a fun project and presentation for this year's eggs.

My tips for Easter are:

• Keep it Simple
• Keep it Fun
• Get Everyone Involved

I hope you have a great Easter with your family, full of great traditions and lasting memories. I would love to hear what your family is looking forward to for the holiday. I am always looking for new traditions to add in our little family.

*Disclaimer - I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hop blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Giveaway - EASports Active 2 for the Wii

Since joining the Mamavation Sistahood last year, I have made many changes in our lifestyle. One of the biggest was we bought a Wii and I discovered a few great active games like Wii Resort, Just Dance 2, Just Dance Kids and the EASports Active 2.

I love the EASports Active 2 because, dislike a DVD, you can't skip out on a punch, a kick or a lunge. The Heart Rate Monitor and Wireless Motion Tracking hold you accountable for every exercise. It amazes me how far "games" have come.

These are great and effective workouts that really bring on the burn when I get my sweat on. For a Stay-at-home Mom like myself, being able to exercise in the comfort of my own home, whenever I can is very handy! I highly recommend this product, and purchased my own copy from the advice and urging of other Mamavation Sistas. This post is not sponsored, or paid in any way.

Because I am a Mamavation Mom Finalist for campaign 8, I want to share the joy of this program with you and your family. Would you like to win your own copy?

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Mandatory Entry is easy! I need help getting votes. Please go  to Mamavation.com and vote for "notimeMom" then click "enter" at the bottom of the page. Already entered my $25 GC giveaway and voted? Then vote on another computer or on your phone, etc. for your mandatory entry.

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:

•  Leave a comment for me on the voting page. Anything like "I voted for notimeMom because she would make a great Mamavation Mom" would be great! (1 entry)
• Refer a friend! ...or two! They must complete the mandatory entry & comment before you can claim the entry. I will verify all referrals. (1 entry for each verified referral)
• 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:

Mamavation would be lucky to have @notimeMom as a #Mamavation Mom. I voted for her & entered her #giveaway. http://bit.ly/gl1II4 (ends 4/4)

*Disclaimer - I have an extra unused copy of EA Sports Active 2 for the Wii to giveaway. Winner must be 18 years or older. This giveaway ends 4/4 at 6PM PST. Winner will be drawn via random.org and must respond to my email confirmation within 48 hours to claim their prize. I am not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Giveaway - $25 Amazon Gift Card

Have you heard? I was selected as a Mamavation Mom Finalist for campaign #8!!!  

Okay, I am really excited, but I have a long way to go from actually getting to be one of the two ladies selected. What do I need?

I need votes! 

Since you guys are really amazing readers, I want to offer you all a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card just for voting for me. It is that simple. Today voting starts... and I have one week to drum up enough support and votes to win this race.  

What will I win? I will be put through a 7-week boot camp, to lose weight and become fit and healthy. I will be changing my life with the help of a dietitian, workout plan and life coaching sessions. This is the chance of a life-time for me.

This will be a simple giveaway...  

• Mandatory Entry: vote for "notimeMom" http://bit.ly/ibBruC Be sure to press enter at the bottom of the voting page. (1 entry)
• Tweet (2 entries per day, more than 1 hour apart.):

"@notimeMom is hoping to be the next #Mamavation Mom & inspire others. Can you vote for her? http://bit.ly/ibBruC   ends 4/4 pls RT" 

• Refer a friend. They need to enter and then you can comment with their name: ie. "I referred____" I will be verifying these. (1 entry per verified referral)

*Disclaimer - This giveaway is sponsored by me. You must be 18 years or older to enter. This giveaway will end 4/4 6pm PST. The winner will be chosen via random.org and have 48 hours to respond to my email to claim their prize.

Daring Bakers' March Challenge - Filled Meringue Coffee Cake

Oh, heavens to murgatroyd!

I love a good yeast bread. What can I say? I am addicted to the theraputic feeling of kneading.

I adore chocolate. I mean, I am female!

I am a little nutty for nuts and spices, too. So this month's Daring Bakers' Challenge for the Filled Meringue Coffee Cake was very exciting. I just knew it would be fantastic. In fact, I didn't have anything I wanted to change about the filling. Except... I did sneak a few white chocolate chips and bitter chocolate into the mix.

This Month's challenge was courtesy of  Jamie of Life’s a Feast and Ria of Ria’s Collection. . Jamie offered us a chocolate and nut version while Ria had a savory version with Garam Masala and Saffron. Both were tempting, but the chocolate won out in the end. This recipe will make 2 coffee cakes, but you can half the recipe.

For the Coffee Cake You will need:

4 c. flour

1/4 c. sugar

3/4 tsp. salt

2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast

3/4 c. whole milk

1/4 c. water

1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temp.

2 large eggs, at room temp.

Combine 1 1/2 c. of flour, sugar, salt and your yeast in a bowl and set aside. 

In a small saucepan heat up your milk, water and butter. Just till the butter melts. Add this to the flour mixture. With an electric mixer on low, beat until well blended. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Add the eggs and 1 c. of flour and beat for another 2 minutes.

Using a wooden spoon, stir in enough remaining flour to make a dough that holds together. Turn it out onto a floured surface and knead the dough for 8 -10 minutes till it is soft, smooth and elastic. Add the remaining 1 1/2 c. of flour only as necessary. A soft and slightly sticky dough will be more tender when baked.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl loosely with wrap and then a towel. Allow it to rise for 45-60 minutes until it has doubled in bulk.

At this time you can prepare your filling. 

For the Filling you will need:

1 c. chopped pecans

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used a combo of white chocolate, semi-sweet, and bitter)

In a smaller bowl I combined:

2 Tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Once the dough has risen, you can make your meringue.

You will need:

3 large egg whites at room temp

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. sugar

Beat the egg whites with the salt. Start at a low speed and then gradually increase it. When you have foamy and opaque egg whites, add the vanilla and slowly add the sugar. Continue beating till you form very stiff, glossy peaks.

Divide your dough in half and wrap your extra half in wrap while you make your first coffee cake.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out your dough to 20" by 10" rectangle. 

Then spread half your meringue on it and sprinkle with half the sugar mixture, and half the chocolate and nuts. Then roll it up like a jellyroll from the long side. Transfer your log to a baking sheet with parchment paper (this will catch any chocolate meringue spill-overs!) and form into a ring. With kitchen shears cut slits into the side of your log.

Repeat this with your remaining ingredients. Cover your coffee cakes with plastic and let them rise for another 45 to 60 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Brush your coffee cakes with an egg wash before baking for 25-35 minutes. They will be golden brown and will sound hollow when tapped. For a finishing touch, you can dust them lightly with powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Enjoy!

Check back every month on the 27th for the Daring Bakers' Challenge reveal. Until then, happy baking!

How Does Our Garden Grow?

It is Oregon... with overcast skies and giant mud puddles requiring kayaks to navigate, I am finally ready to start on my garden. Well, with a little help from the mud-pie-makin'-posse.

Armed with some extra trays, a great little Jiffy kit, and a whole host of vegetable wishes and seedling dreams, we got a little dirty. ...and Little Girl tried to decide if dirt tasted as good as it looked.

My son is working on daisies and cherry tomatoes. I planted a whole variety of indoor sown plants like; eggplant, leeks, kale, basil, pak choi & brussel sprouts. I still have a whole sack of seeds for direct sowing, but they will have to wait for warmer ground temps.

My suggestion is to clearly mark all your seed trays! Nothing like forgetting what is what when it comes to planting time. Though we use Popsicle stick markers, but other markings on your trays in case you have small "helpful" children like mine.

This year I am going to try a roll of mulch. Better than the plastic my Mom layed down to discourage weeds, help the ground retain moisture and heat, my roll is silver and will also deter some types of pests. Woo-hoo! It is my first time trying it, but at only $17 a roll to cover my whole garden, it sounds worthwhile.


Last year I spent more time fighting with the weeds than tending to my plants. This year I hope that changes. I have high hopes that not only will we be swimming in tomatoes and basil this year (those are easy for me to grow), but we will also have plenty of eggplant and salad greens to get us through the warm months.

After our seeds were safely in dirt, it was time to water them. Little girl was in awe of the watering system in the greenhouse. Daddy could even control exactly where it rained!

So what do you have planned for your garden this year? Trying anything new?

Mamavation Monday... Eye of the Tiger

Dum... dum, dum, dum... (enter my current theme song)

Risin' up, straight to the top...

Oh, yes. I felt a little Rocky-esque this week. Obstacles? Yes, I had 'em!

My son got sick and we fought a 101 to 104 degree temperature for 4 days. Then he stopped eating... and for a guy just hanging onto the bottom line of the growth chart, that is a big deal. Add his stomach emptying issues and problems with throwing up... well, it was a challenge to get in my time and focus on eating. But I wasn't about to be kept down..

Had the guts, got the glory...

I  met this week head on! I walked 6/7 days for 3.5 miles or more each day regardless of the weather. I worked on the #100pushups and #300lunges challenges. @Fitmomtraining owned me during hazing circuits, and I even snuck in some DVDs for abs and general strength.

Went the distance now I'm not gonna stop

This marked the last week of "hazing" as a Mamavation Campaign 8 applicant. Regardless of the outcome, (since I have been here before) I know this is the time to really take off with my fitness and whole foods. I hope to be a finalist and start working on getting votes, but either way the MILI challenge will begin and Leah is offering another great carrot to complete the 7 weeks -as if a great body isn't enough? Right?

Well, I am proud of myself for reapplying for Mamavation. It isn't easy to ask friends and strangers even for help and support to make a life change. Shoot, it is tough to just admit that I am overweight and unhealthy. It is usually just the elephant in the room. I am moved by the support from my great Mamavation Sistas. You ladies are great! You have no idea how much this all means to me.

Just a (wo)man and (her) will to survive...

I have a deep desire to survive... I want to live and succeed at being a good role model and a healthy woman. Huffing and puffing, wheezing or sitting out for a break are not ways to survive. I am going to do better than that. I am going to kick this weight to the curb and really live.

Do you remember the Office episode where Michael Scott had his theme song? Well, in Michael fashion... I have chosen my theme song, Journey's Eye of the Tiger. Yes, it is a tough oldie... but goodie.So feel free to get that one stuck in your brain today. I bet it will lend you some extra Rocky-esque strength to tackle your running, resistance training or those planks we all love so much!

My goal is to not give up, keep fighting and go till I succeed in my desire to get fit. I hope you will all be joining me on this quest... either with support, tweet accountability, or...if it comes to it, votes. I hope Mamavation Mom is in the cards for me after these past months. I am definitely hungry for it!  Best of luck to all the applicants. I hope we all reach our goals soon.

***UPDATE*** I AM a Finalist!!! So excited and nervous about getting the votes needed. Please tweet if you can and ask your friends/family to help vote also. Just click on http://bit.ly/geB3Y8 and vote notimeMom, hit enter and you are done. SUPER EASY!

As for my weight this week? I will be adding my scale photo and weight loss Monday morning. I don't think there was much change this week.

This Week's Recipe Share - Black Cherry Tea

you will need:

2 1/2 quarts water
1 lb. black cherries, pitted, or 2- 10-oz bags frozen pitted black cherries, thawed
1/2 c. sugar (frozen cherries might require more)
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
3 whole star anise
1/2 vanilla bean, split & scraped
16 green-tea bags
Mint sprigs, for serving  (opt.)

Bring the water to boil in a large saucepan. Then simmer the cherries, sugar, lemon juice, star anise & vanilla bean (both seeds & pod) for 15 minutes. Smash the cherries against the side as they simmer. Take off the heat and let it sit for 1 hour.

Then put through a sieve, smashing all liquids out of the cherries. Bring the cherry juice back to boil and then turn off the heat. Let your green tea bags steep for 5 minutes. Remove the bags and chill your tea. 

Serve it over ice with a sprig of mint. Enjoy! *If you are concerned about the cost, use U-pick or slighly bruised fruit (on discount), you can omit the vanilla bean or put in just a touch of real vanilla extract. Look for star anise in Asian markets or in the Latino section at the grocery store for less than big label bottles.

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

SISTA of the WEEK: A big well-deserved congrats to Stephanie (@fitmomtraining) for being recognized for her help, motivation and putting all of the applicants through hazing circuits. I think she is even more creative this campaign. I look forward to keeping those up in the next few weeks. I appreciate the push and am happy to be hazed any ole' time. 

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Earth Footwear.   One blogging carnival participant will receive a pair of Earth Footwear.  To be eligible answer the following blogging carnival question in your weekly Mamavation blog post and mention Earth Footwear with a link back to their site.  Link up your post here.

Where will your feet take you this year? Any plans for a big hike, race, or just a lot of walking?

I just ordered a sunshade for our double Phil & Ted Stroller and hope to really get out and pound the pavement this Spring & Summer. Right now I am doing a 3.5 mile loop in front of our house, but hope to do some longer walks to the park and produce market soon. I am still looking for a good 5K (local is best) to sign up for and as soon as our trails here in Oregon dry out a bit, there will be lots of hiking and camping in my future. Really Spring and Summer are exciting times for me and the family to get out and get active.

Blogmania Sponsor Spotlight: Eco-Foil

I love to cook, but sometimes I either can't bare the mess, don't want to retrieve a dish after wards, or want an easier way to cook and take outside. It is those times that aluminum bakeware can come in handy. But what about the waste?

I did an Eco-Foil review last month that you can check out here. I am excited to announce that they are also one of my sponsors for Blogmania, April 9th & 10th.  Be sure to stop back by during those two days for a great giveaway package worth $100, plus a link to the other participating blogs.

You might be familiar with Handi-Foil, known for their aluminum bakeware. But what you might not have known is they’ve created aluminum bakeware products called Eco-Foil made from 100% recyclable materials and that can be 100% recycled afterwards. This is called close-looped recycling which creates a great cycle without the waste! Yes, many recyclable materials, including paper & glass, require some new materials in the creation process... but that is not so with aluminum. So, I no longer need to feel guilty.

They have a variety of products in varying sizes to accommodate roasting a large cut of meat down to baking a cake for your next potluck. Look for these products in your local stores. You can also connect with Eco-Foil's Facebook page for a handy store locator and other current promotions.

For Blogmania I will have one package (worth $30) to give away as part of my For The Family prize package worth over $100! Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you don't miss the fun.

Winners To Announce!

I have winners to announce! Were you one of them? As always, the winners were selected by random.org. Here they are:

Pretty Neat winner: #3 is:
Rachel said...

Subscribe via email

March 12, 2011 10:14 AM 

Pop Secret Winner : #167 is:
 Cathy W said...

I'd watch Beverly Hill Chihuahua 2

March 21, 2011 11:44 PM 

If you didn't win this time around, don't worry! Be sure to enter my Barber Foods giveaway running right now, and check back for more great giveaways to come... including the Blogmania Giveaway Hop in April. Every blog will have a prize package worth at least $100 dollars!

Aloha Friday #54

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...

Pancakes or Waffles?

Okay, maybe neither is your favorite, but if you had to make a breakfast choice, what would it be? Holes for your syrup or smooth and springy pillows? I tend to have more luck at making waffles, but which do you prefer?

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!

Wordless Wednesday - I'm NOT Sick

...oh, really?

Facebook Finds

I haven't had much time to post giveaway round ups lately,  but am contemplating posting a Linky once a week. Do you guys have any particular day you would rather have a new giveaway listing?

In my inbox there were some great opportunities and programs associated with Facebook. I just wanted to share them with you:

Remember my CardsDirect.com review last year? They had some great Christmas cards. Of course they carry cards for all year around (birthdays, invitations, thank you and get well cards) and are so easy to use. Right now if you like their Facebook page you can take 10% off your order. The code is good through 4/30, so why not "Like" them today?

Also, you have heard me gush  about SodaStream before. My husband loves it and even purchased some of their new smaller bottles. It allows him to make just enough to drink with his meal and there is no extra to store in the fridge. Right now they are participating in The Water Project. In commemoration of World Water Day, SodaStream will donate 25 cents to the Water Project for every new "Like" on their Facebook page.

Have you found any great Facebook opportunities? Share the information, share the fun! It is called Social Media for a reason.

*Disclaimer - no compensation or products were received for posting this. 

Hazelnut Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream Icing

There is something so decadent about hazelnuts! I just knew with an open bottle of Nutella in the pantry I wanted to find the perfect hazelnut cupcake to accompany it.

So I went straight for Martha Stewart's Cupcake Book for the cake. This dense cake uses both toasted almond and hazelnut flour and then beaten egg whites for added lightness. It is rich and nutty. Everything I was looking for. You can find the recipe HERE.

I toasted my nuts, both almonds and hazelnuts, at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. After the first 8 minutes I shook the baking sheet and turned my nuts so they wouldn't burn. They were fragrant and hot!

Then pulse up the nuts in a food processor. Do not over do it, or you will end up with nut butter. Use the pulse button and check it frequently.

Great cupcakes on their own, with flecks of nuts dotting the exterior, but to make them truly good I recommend making the Nutella buttercream. So easy, and delicious!

You will need:
1 c. unsalted butter (2 sticks) at room temp.

2 Tbsp. Nutella spread

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. meringue powder (optional)

1 lb. powdered sugar

Cream your butter with a hand mixer until fluffy. Add in Nutella, vanilla and meringue powder. Then slowly start adding the powdered sugar till you have desired stiffness.

I added the meringue powder to give it more strenght since buttercreams are often soft. It is optional though.

Then I used a Wilton tip 1M to pipe the buttercream onto the cupcakes and then sprinkled them with chopped toasted hazelnuts. Enjoy!

...For even more cupcake creations, be sure to visit Hoosier Homemade's Cupcake Tuesdays