Breyers Sundae Scoop-Off Contest
Breyers® is in search of the next great sundae with the Sundae Scoop-Off Contest and you have a chance to win! From now through September 13, 2010, the Sundae Scoop-Off Contest is challenging America to create original, family-friendly ice cream sundae recipes including 10 or fewer ingredients. View complete contest requirements and enter the recipes at www.breyers.com for a chance to win $10,000, a trip to Chicago featuring a private cooking lesson with renowned pasty Chef Gale Gand and one year of FREE Breyers® ice cream. The sundae recipe entries will be judged on taste, creativity, use of Breyers® ice cream and presentation.
Disclosure: I am posting this on behalf of blogger relationship with Breyers and even though I may be receiving an product, I just had to share with you because we all scream for Ice Cream!
No tags for this post.Pillsbury Crescent Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
As everyone knows, I am a southern gal. Born and raised in the south with the southern accent to boot, that is what makes up me – Jen Houck. I could not imagine life any other way.
Ever since I was a small little girl, my brother and I would be in the kitchen to see what we could create to surprise our parents. My love of cooking has grown even stronger over the years and most evenings, you will still find me in the kitchen. This is why it is an honor to be asked to be a Crescent Cook Pillsbury Ambassador and share my easy and delicious recipes with all of you… busy parents!
Let’s back up here and tell you the time line of how this all took place. Back in June, I filled out an application about why my love for Pillsbury Crescent Rolls was so big. I did not have any expectations, so when I received a call to say I was in the top 100 out of 3600 applicants… there was lots of grinning ear to ear. I had to submit two recipes to see if I could make it to the next round and I DID! It was then telephone interview time, to my surprise, I was not nervous at all. More than likely, it was because I was speaking of a subject that was very dear to my heart. Cooking! I didn’t hear anything for a couple weeks and then the day of L’s surgery, I received the call that I was one of the 4 finalists. I wanted to scream from the roof tops, but I have had to keep it quiet till today. That was hard.
Now fast forward to the winning recipe.
As we all know, us southern ladies really do love our comfort food.
So let’s take Comfort food + Pillsbury
and we have Pillsbury Crescent Chicken Pot Pie that will make your mouth water.
Now does that not look delicious?
Go ahead and click here now to view the recipe. It is so easy that you will want to try it tonight for dinner. While you are there, could I ask you with my sweetest best southern charm, to vote for my recipe? If you do vote, you could be entered to win a cash prize of $5,000 as well! Now, I know you would love that!!
Ok… go on… what are you waiting for? Let’s get to cooking 
New Pregnancy App for iPhone
Technology is constantly changing and moving on up the ladder. I am proud to announce that today BabyCenter is making several pregnant women very happy with the release of the BabyCenter (R) My Pregnancy Today App for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
This free app, called BabyCenter My Pregnancy Today, will give you access to your personalized day-by-day pregnancy tracker, pregnancy checklists, fetal development images and even your birth clubs on BabyCenter. You can also enjoy our award-winning 3D videos showing life in the womb from conception through birth.
The BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today application is now available at www.babycenter.com/iphone-pregnancy-download. According to a recent BabyCenter poll, 60 percent of expectant moms want an application to track their pregnancy, so this just fits the bill to make many expectant moms very happy. As everyone knows, us moms always have our smart phones everywhere with us so this app will help be your guide that is always by your side throughout your whole pregnancy. The app has me wishing that I was pregnant right now 
.
“The BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today app is everything that millions of women love about BabyCenter right in their purse,” says Linda Murray, BabyCenter editor-in-chief. “Mobile phones are changing the way women get their pregnancy and parenting information, and we want to make sure an expecting mom has all the answers she needs right at her side at all times. Our new app turns your iPhone into an expert guide for your exact date of pregnancy, making it that much easier to enjoy the rich, personal experience that is the journey of new motherhood.”
To celebrate the new app, BabyCenter is hosting a BabyCenter® My Pregnancy Today Sweepstakes from August 24 through September 22. Visitors at BabyCenter.com will have the chance to win a $2,500 Apple Gift Card. Go to http://www.babycenter.com/bcsweeps for all contest information and to enter. Who can use a new iPad or new iMac?! I know I could.
Samsung the Future to Everyday Appliances
Samsung… This is a word that I was not real educated on until about a year ago. We were in the market for a Washer and Dryer and my hopes were set on a Front Loader Washer and Dryer. Take a look and listen on how we arrived at the decision for purchasing a Samsung Front Loader Washer and Dryer.
As you can see, we are pretty big fans of the Samsung brand. I had the delight of being able to experience the whole new line of Samsung Appliances recently when I was in NYC. Recently, Samsung launched their new 2010 Home Appliance Line-up. Samsung’s new home appliance product line includes a front-loading washer (WF520) with a spacious 5.0 cu.ft. capacity and a new intense PowerFoam™ cleaning technology, a new Four-Door Refrigerator (RF4287) with a unique mid-drawer positioned at counter height that opens to the outside and has independent temperature control, a new line of side-by-side refrigerators highlighted by the RS267 that offers best in class energy efficiency, and the first hybrid induction range. There is a store located in NYC that lets you go in and have your very own Samsung Experience. This allows you to go indepth with each product to see if this is the right match. I will say, once you get in there, you will not want to leave.
Samsung is listening to us moms. They heard that we are busier than ever and designed their appliances in a way to save us time and energy! Let’s take a look into the new Refrigerator.
The Samsung Refrigerator is a Four-Door French Refrigerator. The drawers in this fridge just makes moms smile so big. A Counter Height 4th Drawer called the FlexZone Drawer is an independent mid drawer, separate from the main refrigerator compartment that offers something for every family member. Just take a look inside of this fridge.
Look how spacious and organized it is! You can easily open the refrigerator and find the item that you need at any given moment throughout the day. Do you see the shelves straight back on the left? You can actually fold those shelves up to give you more room for taller items such as for soda pop bottles. Then the doors at the bottom are just the most creative design ever! It comes with a smart divider.
The Smart Divider is adjustable and offers flexible storage solutions for whatever you grocery needs may be – it is the ultimate refrigerator organization tool.
Also, on the front of the refrigerator is all kinds of temperature controls that you change by just simply touching the buttons with your hand. With four preset temperature control settings, Mom can store a party-size salad platter; Dad can have optimally chilled drinks; and kids can easily reach for their favorite snacks and juices boxes – all at the perfect temperature.
Thank you Samsung for finally creating a fridge that caters to the ever so busy family in today’s fast pace world.
As if I was not totally won over by the refrigerator (I was actually drooling over it), I set my eyes on the new range.
This is a freestanding induction range. It only uses a specific set of cookware, that is how high tech this beautiful appliance is. The induction range has faster cook times, which means dinner gets to the table quicker. It offers fast and efficient cooking and boils water up to 50 percent faster than traditional electric cooktops. With the easy-to-use SelecTouch™ panel, you have more precise control over cooktop temperature, whether using high-heat or doing a slow simmer. You also get a faster response when changing temperatures so you can master meals no matter what skills you have as a cook. Now us moms have no excuse of not saying we cannot cook… Samsung is helping us moms get back to cooking in the kitchen instead of take-out every night .
We all know that the after dinner part is one of those things that takes so much of mom’s time. Samsung is hitting it out of the ballpark with saving us time with the induction range. Since the smooth surface stays cool to the touch, food spills don’t get caked on and baked in. Moms can just wipe and go, so they can spend less time cleaning and more time entertaining.
Now you can see why I have really fell in love with the Samsung appliances?! It just thrills me so much that Samsung is actually listening to us moms that we need time savers in order to get more time in the day. They have worked hard with their engineers to make sure they are delivering a product that moms everywhere are going to love. Samsung is all ears and very open to opinions. I learned this when I was in the Samsung Experience room.
Every question I asked, was always followed through with a thorough response. Samsung you really have a customer for life!
Go ahead and take your own Samsung Experience on their online site at Samsung.com/HomeAppliances.
Full Disclosure: I was in no way paid for my thoughts here about Samsung. I am a true real customer that just wants to share these time saving appliances with other parents.
No tags for this post.Taking an Inside Look Into the Zhu Zhu Pets Tour
The Zhu Zhu pets craze is reaching out all across the US with the Zhu-niverse Tour! If you wanted to try out the Zhu Zhu Pets firsthand before buying, your time has come. Come along with us as we go inside the Zhu-niverse Tour.
It was here during the tour that the girls and I got to here the full details on all the new Rockstar Zhu Zhu pets. Have you seen them? They are too cute and cuddly not to take home. I know what will be on the girls’ Christmas and Birthday lists this year. Also the Zhu Zhu Pets creators have a whole site dedicated to the new line of the Kung Zhu Pets. My girls as you seen in the video were having a blast playing with the new Zung Zhu line.
Make sure to see if the Zhu-universe tour is coming to a city near you. Have fun!
No tags for this post.New Raleigh NC Mom Blogger
Stop the presses people, Jen has left her beloved mountains for the big city living in Raleigh, NC.
It is true my readers, I had to break off the relationship with the Blue Ridge Mountains. We just couldn’t take it any longer as I kept cheating and driving down to Raleigh throughout this year…. it became more apparent that Raleigh, NC would be our new hometown. Mountains, I still love you though and you are only 3 hours from me, so now I can cheat on Raleigh and visit YOU!
Here is to a new journey for our family. Better job opportunity for my husband, better school system for our girls and a better environment for L and her asthma. Also a better area for green and organic living. Trader Joes is definitely all that and a cup of fresh cheeries. We have already bonded tight!
So here we are… stay tuned on this new ride as I am sure we will have plenty of tales from a county girl living in a big city with a super thick southern accent. It’s all good!
Let’s get you all started on this journey with the girls’ first day of school. My babies are growing up. L started kindergarten and M started 2nd grade. L had a bit of anxiety but with some great pep talks from mom (more coming on that) she had a wonderful first day. M said everyone kept wanting to talk to her… maybe they are just enjoying her southern accent as well
Aren’t they just the cutest, stylish girls on the planet? Of course they are!
We did unfortunately already have our first ER trip and wasn’t even here a full 2 days. My precious L got spider bit. I of course naturally freaked out but all is well again and L’s foot is back to normal. It wasn’t looking so great when it first happened.
You would have had a panic attack too… or maybe I am just a overly worried mom. Yes… that’s what it is I am sure.
Here we go on the rest of our big city journey. Now let me go charge my GPS so I can find my way back to Trader Joes! They do have more than 2 stop lights here you know
NYC BlogHer 2010 Recap
I Came… I Saw… I Mingled… I Connected… I Home!
Where do I even start? Such a great experience in NYC participating in the BlogHer 2010 conference. I thought last year was a great event, but this year was even better if that could even be true.
Let’s walk through the journey Jen went on from Thursday to Sunday!
Hanes put out the red carpet for such a great welcome event Thursday afternoon. My first event right off the plane. I didn’t even have time to go to the hotel and get all dolled up but Hanes you know… they believe in comfort so I was welcomed right on in. It was there that I had my very first bra fitting and now know why my bras never FIT. I was wearing the wrong size OH MY. Hanes to the rescue and oh what about the hottie Michael Moloney from Extreme Home Makeover. It is true, he is a super saavy organizer and finally brought me to my senses that I need to quit hoarding clothes from the 90s.
The clock striked and it was time to zoom back through the streets because I had a hot date with Samsung Home Appliances. I will say hands down that this was such an awesome PR event put on. It was so well done that it will get its own blog post coming really soon. The PR connection here was just over the moon and the explanation of their products and where they plan to go in the future with their modern products was just hit out of the ball park. Awesome evening for sure.
I had to unfortunately tell my hot date with Samsung Home Appliances that it had been a long day and Jen needed a little sleep if it was meant for her to carry on to the next day.
Rise and shine Friday morning. I hit the ground running with my partner in crime over at BabyCenter. Have I mentioned how much I love this gal named Dina? NO? Well, just let me tell you. She is all that and then some. We made our first stop at Starbucks of the BlogHer weekend and goodness gracious knew we needed it since we were full speed on the whole weekend.
After I downed my Starbucks, it was time to go get pretty at Audrey’s and Vera’s Getting Gorgeous event. What a true event for women! This was such a well planned event to get us women more gorgeous. They had clothing brands, technology brands, make-up brands and more there to connect with us. The highlight of the event and well pretty much the whole weekend was meeting Audrey’s family. I have been talking with Sharon and Jane for around 3 years online now and I was so giddy to meet them. They are the most sweet and genuine people you will ever meet. Sharon is one of my hero’s that I look up to when I think back to raising my girls. I so want to have that relationship with my girls when they are adults. Sharon and I shared some teary eyed conversations… she is just an inspiration. LOVE Mom Generation gals!
It was on to have a quick bite to eat. I was so thrilled with BlogHer this year for having such great healthy lunches for everyone. Way to go BlogHer planners!
Since my belly was all filled… it was time to go check out the Expo Floor. It was two levels this year and no I did not get through the Expo floor but I did try my best to make connections with most everyone. I do have to say that it was well organized Expo floor and plenty of room this year to maneuver through all the brands. It is here where I had a one on one chat with a Dream Analyst that Proctor and Gamble had on the floor. We spoke about the dreams I have about my Grandma and I just started crying right there on the floor. Thankfully Amy Hodges was there with me the whole time to offer hugs and smiles!
I gathered my heart and put it back where it was suppose to be and ran back to the Hotel room. It was time to get all dolled up for the Wine in the City Event. I could only stay for the reception but I was so happy that I went. It was in the limo ride there that I met a super fab group of food bloggers and one in particular Rhody Girl Tests. I so can’t wait to begin reading her blog and getting to know her more. She was a real charm! Shannon and Erika put on a great event and I was so bummed that I had to sneak out early.
It was time to get in the Christmas spirit and do my sleigh ride over to the Hallmark Party. They are coming out with some awesome products for this Christmas season. I will be writing more but just let me say, you will WANT these products in your house or to use for this upcoming Christmas season. You know it is in like 4 months right…. YIPPEE
Santa agreed to drop me back off at my hotel if I would give Rudolph some reindeer food so I agreed and was off to the hotel. It is here that I met up with the ever so fab Dina again to head over to the Savvy Sassy Mom’s Ciao Bello Penthouse Party. The party was so jamming up on the 53rd floor and the views were just out of this world. The Gelatto was simply amazing… you must try it if you have it in your area! It was here that a group of the BabyCenter Momformation bloggers were just having a blast hanging out in the fancy bathtub… you know fully clothed in all but with that view of the city and great friends… you couldn’t resist.
My internal alarm clock was telling me that I really needed my pillow and fast so we cruised on back over to the hotel and I had a date with my pillow.
Saturday morning started out with Starbucks of course. They have Starbucks on every street there I think. There were no withdrawal problems in NYC for Starbucks. I started the morning with having an on air TV interview with Yahoo Shine! The Yahoo folks were so courteous and generous with their time for interviewing us and publishing us really soon. Will share details soon.
The rest of the afternoon I visited a couple of BlogHer panel sessions and made my way through the Expo floors. I sure did get up on stage and dance my heart out with the Just Dance team. Just Dance 2 is coming out next month and I will be first in line to get it . It was just so much fun and who cares the whole world was watching me shake my booty… as long as I was having fun that is all that matters right? HEHE!
I grabbed little conversations with bloggers that I haven’t met, brainstormed with PR brand leaders, and shared my Southern Jen charm to finish out the Saturday afternoon.
As soon as it was 5:00… all hats were off and it was time to go have fun in the city. Times Square on a Saturday night was crazy. Who knew it was shoulder to shoulder? I ended the night with falling in the road and slicing my foot open. But Prince Charming aka Police Officer rode up on his horse to call an ambulance… I graciously declined as I had my bloggy friends Carolina Mama and Deb Mom of 3 to help me across the street to Walgreens to be doctored up. There was no way that I was going to be causing a big scene in the middle of Times Square with an ambulance coming to fetch me up HAHA!
And that is a wrap folks. Sunday was a full day of sight seeing that I will give its own post.
It was a blast… See you in San Diego 2011
Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure for Nintendo DS Now in Stores
Last Christmas Santa brought the girls a Nintendo DSi each. Now, let me first say that the girls do not get to play these everyday but they are allowed to play with them a few times a week and on long road trips. I am going to begin reviewing the games that the girls really love here on the blog so that other parents can get an idea of what games to buy for their kids.
A new game is now out in stores. It is Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure.
The game was launched ust in time for Nickelodeon’s primetime television event, which is also titled Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure and is premiering on August 15 (the girls and I will be definitely watching). The game allows preschoolers to be a part of the adventure in a fun, interactive way. Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure follows Dora and Boots on their biggest adventure yet as they try to find their way out of Wizzle World to make it to Dora’s big birthday celebration. Nintendo DS™ players will trace, tap, shout, and scribble their way through challenges, such as riding a unicorn over the rainbow, floating in a magic bubble across Sea Snake Lake and traveling through mystical lands like the Dancing Forest. In addition, gamers can join Dora for special birthday games like Card Match, Balloon Pop, and Dress Up.
Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure for DSfeatures voice actors from the Nickelodeon television show, including a cameo by actress Rosie Perez. Additionally, the game was play-tested for age-appropriateness, fun-factor and quality, and the packaging features a “Kid-Tested” seal.
Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure was developed by Black Lantern Studios, Inc. The game is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and has a suggested retail price is $29.99. For more information, please visit www.2kgames.com/2kplay
2K Play is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO).
No tags for this post.Vaccinations Are Not Required
I have a hero in the blogging world. Her name happens to be Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing. As you all know, L has had lots of medical issues during her whole life. We are working through all the issues. One of the things that has always weighed heavily on my mind is vaccinations. L only received her vaccinations her first year of life. Then when all her medical issues started escalating and I begin doing more and more research, my husband and I made the decision to hold off on the vaccinations for her. I knew we had a few years till she had to start school so I would just deal with it later.
Well as you know time and life comes at you fast. L is ready to begin kindergarten. How can this be true? I began worrying on what we would do with the vaccinations requirement for school entry then I stumbled across this informational blog post from Stephanie. She totally answered my questions and made me realize that I could stand up for my child and not make L do the vaccinations to just attend school.
We enrolled her in school Monday and everything went so smoothly and the staff at the school didn’t even bat an eye about the girls’ vaccinations report. Now, I do want to say that I am not saying for you to not get your kids vaccinated. All I am saying is to please read Stephanie’s post and get educated about the whole vaccination situation. You are your child’s voice and we do still have rights here in the USA.
My husband and I both feel we have made the right choice for our girls and I hope the same when you are making the decision about your children.
Thank you Steph for being my saving grace during this time!
No tags for this post.I Am Off On A Jet Plane to NYC
The time has come for the yearly BlogHer conference. This year it is in NYC. I am very excited to connect with everyone once again and see my partner in crime at BabyCenter.
I will be proudly wearing my Santa Hat at the Hallmark Christmas in August party Friday night so just smile and wave if you see me . I so love Christmas so to be able to celebrate a few months earlier is just an awesome treat.
I plan to take in lots of sights and sounds of NYC on Sunday since the conference will be officially over and I don’t fly out till Sunday night. I am hoping to stay busy the whole time because I know that I will be missing my girls and hubby like crazy. It was just the cutest tonight at dinner. We were saying our prayers and it was the girls turn to do their prayers. Both of the girls prayed for my safety to and from NYC and that they were going to miss mommy so much. Yes, tears were forming in my eyes as they were praying. I love those precious girls so much. I so can’t wait to see them at the airport when I touch down with all their goodies.
Here’s to all the fun times… I will definitely be reporting back with a full review of the conference with lots of pictures and stories. In the meantime, make sure to follow me on Twitter during my journey @OneMomsWorld.
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