Getting Ready for the Princess and the Frog
My daughter loves Disney Princesses, so as you can imagine, we are very excited for the brand new princess movie, The Princess and the Frog, to come out in theaters December 11th. To get ready for the movie, we hosted a Tiana play date, with snacks from the Princess Tiana Recipes for Kids Cookbook.
Disney Consumer Products sent us a gift pack with lots of great products for the play date, including the cookbook, plates, cups, napkins, the Princess and the Frog Wii game, coupons, pins, posters, and many other products. Although I’m not the best baker in the world, I gave my best attempt at making the frog cupcakes pictured here, which came out pretty good if I say so myself! They were a huge hit at the party, and look as though they were a lot harder to make than they actually are.
The Wii game is really my daughter’s favorite of the gift set – she absolutely loves it! It includes a variety of settings from the movie, and players can earn beads to use as currency by playing games. Players can also change Tiana’s outfit, and give her different accessories. Beads can be exchanged for necessary components for setting up Tiana’s new restaurant.
The Princess and the Frog is being released nationwide on December 11th.
Disclosure: Disney Consumer Products provided us with the Tiana gift set free of charge.
Post from: Mom’s Favorite Stuff
Getting Ready for the Princess and the Frog
United Airline Bear to support kids in need
For the third year in a row, United Airlines and the American Cancer Society are releasing a limited edition teddy bear sporting the name of a cute-but-horrendous pun. Year one saw the huggable “Kenny Hugyou”, followed by his sister the next year “Maye I. Hugyou”. This year’s bear is the third-born in the family, “Holden Hugyou”. I can’t wait to hear what they come up with next year. Ivana Hugyou? Lemmy Hugyou? Kishan Hugyou?
For the third year in a row, for a $50 donation (or donation of 7500 United miles), United will donate one bear to a child suffering from cancer in one of 40 children’s hospitals around the country. It’s rare that $50 can go so far.
For a donation of $250, you can have a bear delivered both to a sick child and to a loved one in your life, so he or she can enjoy the oversized (14 inch) teddy bear by Gund (which is the most huggably soft bear you’ll find anywhere). You can also use the opportunity to teach your child about the importance of caring and supporting kids like them who are suffering and in need.
My Amusement Park Game by Leapster
Last Christmas, my daughter received a Leapster and she quickly became obsessed with it – she can just sit quietly and play. Since then, we’ve also had to purchase one for my son, who always tried to grab hers. At 3, he’s still a bit too young for it, but he still has fun.
A few weeks ago, we received the Scholastic My Amusement Park game for review. Although she’s on the younger side of the age range for it (it’s recommended for ages 5-9), she absolutely loves it!
My Amusement Park features thinking and reasoning games for kids to build and maintain amusement park rides. They can also customize rides, and play game booths. The bank is my favorite feature – kids need to earn money in their bank before earning upgrades and unlocking activities.
To learn more or purchase, visit the Leapfrog Web site.
Post from: Mom’s Favorite Stuff
My Amusement Park Game by Leapster
New Whole Grain Muffins from Duncan Hines
Everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely cannot bake. I mean, honestly, I could (and have) mess up cookies in a roll. So, I almost always stick to boxes of baking mix, which do make things a little easier.
I just had the chance to try a few boxes of the newest Duncan Hines 100% Whole Grain Muffin flavors – Triple Chocolate Chunk and Apple Cinnamon. Like the other Duncan Hines products, they are easy to prepare, and they taste great, but they don’t have any trans-fat, and have lots of fiber.
So, how’s the flavor and consistency? Well, they are still moist and taste great! They do taste “healthier” but not in a bad way at all. My kids don’t notice the difference at all – they keep eating them like candy!
You can find Duncan Hines at any grocery store.
Post from: Mom’s Favorite Stuff
New Whole Grain Muffins from Duncan Hines
Give a Feed Bag on Thanksgiving 2009
Two years ago on Thanksgiving Day 2007, the World Food Programme introduced the FEED Bag, an ingenious idea where purchasing a bag (which could be used for eco-friendly shopping) would feed a hungry child for an entire year.
In the last two years, over 40,000 children have been fed thanks to the generous support of people buying this bag. There have been many imitators, but none could match the original. This year, get or send another FEED bag and keep the food going to the most needy in the world. To get yours, visit our original post back in November 2007.
Holiday Gift Ideas from Stop and Shop
A few weeks ago, I attended the annual Stop & Shop bloggers holiday lunch at Upstairs on the Square. Stop & Shop graciously provided lunch and a gift card, and offered activity stations so we could learn how to create some fabulous gifts on a budget.
The pretzel rod station appeared to be the most popular – check out the attached with directions on how to create a reasonably priced, delicious gift.
Another holiday gift idea is dry mix jars – we had the choice of making either a soup mix, or a chocolate chip cookie mix. Guess which one I choose?
Here are the recipes for those (courtesy of Allrecipes.com – a 360PR client).
Country Soup Dry Mix
Ingredients:
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup dried split peas
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1/2 cup dry lentils
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules
1/2 cup uncooked alphabet pasta
1 cup uncooked twist macaroni
Directions:
In a wide mouth 1 quart jar, layer in the following order:
• Half of the uncooked twist macaroni
• Barely
• Peas
• Rice
• Lentils
• Onion,
• Parsley,
• Salt,
• Lemon Pepper
• Bouillon
• Alphabet Pasta
Fill the rest of the jar with the twist macaroni. Seal tightly and decorate with ribbon. Attach gift card.
Chocolate Chip Cookies Dry Mix
Ingredients:
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
Directions:
1. Combine the flour, baking soda, white sugar.
2. Place 1/2 of the mixture in a clean quart sized glass jar, and pack firmly.
3. Place the brown sugar on top, again packing firmly.
4. Place the remaining flour mixture on top and pack firmly.
5. Place the chocolate chips on top.
6. Seal tightly.
7. Decorate with ribbon, attach gift card and baking decorations.
We also created beautiful flower arrangements – they added fresh cranberries to the water, so that it added fall color through the glass vases. They looked really professional and expensive, but at a fraction of the cost.
Stop & Shop has a great holiday promotion when you shop with a Stop & Shop rewards card – you can get a % off any grocery offer the more you spend! Learn more in the store!
Disclosure: Stop & Shop provided lunch, the activity stations, and a gift card.
Post from: Mom’s Favorite Stuff
Holiday Gift Ideas from Stop and Shop
No-Bake Stuffing by the Next Food Network Star Winner Melissa D’Arabian
I’m not cooking this Thanksgiving, but I have hosted Thanksgiving in the past. And, with one oven, and two broken burners on my current stove, I can’t even imagine coordinating multiple items cooking all at the same time. So, I really appreciate these money and time-saving tips from the winner of the Next Food Network Star – Melissa D’Arabian.
Post from: Mom’s Favorite Stuff
No-Bake Stuffing by the Next Food Network Star Winner Melissa D’Arabian
Polar Bear Calendar for 2010
Thomas Kotka and Linda Drake both braved the elements so you don’t have to. The result is this calendar featuring mother polar bears and their cubs in various moments of affection and playfulness, all in their pristine natural environment.
This 12-month calendar includes U.S. and Canadian holidays, moon phases and facts about polar bears. To help protect these precious bears and their environment, 3% of proceeds will be donated to causes that benefit polar bears.
Two Products for the Builders of the Family
My son loves to build things. He’s constantly grabbing blocks, Legos, K’Nex, anything he can get his hands on, to make his latest masterpiece. And then, when he’s got it just right, he takes it apart so he can start all over again. Lately, my mission has been to find him unique building products that he won’t tire of – and that are high quality and fun. We found two unique products that fit the bill!
The first is the Noah’s Ark Stacker Multi-Purpose Toy. The ark is a puzzle that can be put together, but can also be played with. When your little one is done, he can just load the included figures right back into the ark. I love how portable this is – it definitely can go with my son to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. The Noah’s Ark Stacker Multi-Purpose Toy can be purchased at TierToys.com
The second toy is CitiBlocs, which are wooden construction blocks that can be put together in a variety of ways. They don’t require glue or adhesives, and can be used to make so many different things. There are a variety of kits available with different size and color blocks. To purchase CitiBlocs, visit their Web site.
Disclosure: I received a set of CitiBlocs and a Noah’s Ark Stacker for review at no cost.
Post from: Mom’s Favorite Stuff
Two Products for the Builders of the Family
Organic Dog Collar that fights poverty in Africa
Here’s a great gift for pet lovers that helps many others. The Ruffin’ It 100% Organic Cotton Dog Leash
and matching Ruffin’ It 100% Organic Cotton Dog Collar
are both made of 100% organic cotton, with earth-friendly dies and brass-plated clips.Both are tough and durable and machine-washable. Also, 10% of the profits from sales of these products will be donated to FORGE, a non-profit organization which fights poverty and AIDS in Africa.