Popcorners review

Popcorners are a bit different than your regular chips. You see these chips are made from popcorn. Yes you heard that right popcorn. Popcorn has been made into a chip and I love this idea. The flavorful little chips are very tasty and pleased mine and my teens taste buds as well. For years our evening snack has many times been a bowl of popcorn so when offered the chance to review popcorners I thought what a great idea. I was delighted the first time we snacked on the delicious PopCorners snacks because they smell like popcorn as well as have the popcorn taste in an easy to hold chip without the dreaded kernels. Our family has always enjoyed dipping our popcorn into other things like butter, chocolate, cheese and the list went on. The triangle shaped chips are so much easier to dip and taste so good.

For those of us looking to trim up for the summer months will love the fact that we can get more bang for the buck with Popcorners as well. Just look at the picture above for an ounce of chips you nearly get double of that with popcorners. Yummy!!!

The Popcorners website has several great recipes as well. For example take a look at this delicious looking meatloaf recipe

•1/2 cup crushed Butter POPCORNERS


•1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

•3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

•1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix

•2 eggs, beaten

•1/4 cup ketchup

•2 tablespoons steak sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir the ground beef, POPCORNERS, Cheddar cheese, and onion soup mix in a large bowl until well combined. Whisk the eggs, ketchup, and steak sauce in a separate bowl until smooth. Mix the eggs into the meat until evenly combined, if the mixture seems too dry, add a little water. Press into a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Bake in preheated oven until the meatloaf reaches 160 degrees F (71 degrees C) and is no longer pink in the center, 45 to 60 minutes.

I know that you are by now wanting to try Popcorners for yourself. Well you can buy them by finding them at the Popcorners website https://www.popcorners.com/purchase/

Saturday 9

1. What is the most “down and out” that you've ever been?


wow there was one time in my early marriage (25 years ago) that we were not for sure where our next meal was going to come from now we are happy and doing well with the experiences we have been through our knowledge is gold

2. Do you believe there is only one "right" religion?

nope

3. If you could get back in touch with one person you've lost touch with, who would it be and why?

There are many members of my family that have went different directions I would love to have a large family reunion and have eveyone show up

4. Has anyone ever held the key to your heart, but did not know it?

yes there were a few with one special one ending up with it in the end



5. If your lover cheated on you and profusely apologized, might you accept them back into your life?

not for sure have never been in a situation like this so not for sure what I would do

6. Have you ever gone to work/school drunk or stoned? If yes, do tell.

no you can say I was the "good girl"

7. Who is your favorite relative?

not for sure if I have a favorite they are all special to me

8. What annoys you most?

individuals who have negative attitudes and are out to ruin everyone elses day as well
9. Tell us of one thing you used to do that you are not proud of.

well one minor thing is that I used to call off work all the time but now look down on it when other girls do

On The Go Designs Giveaway

With the warmer weather here you may find your self on the go. I know you may not be taking those long trips that you may have before the gas prices went back up but I day trips as well as around the town visits are great get outs as well. My favorite spot when the kids where younger was the park and next to that it was day trips where we left early in the moring and returned in the evening. On these trips there is no need to take a lot of items with you they just seem to get in the way. Yet, babies and toddlers still need to take along certian items. That is why On The Go Designs is the place to look for items to take along on your trip.

The wipe case is perfect for a short trip to the store or park but works well when traveling in the car as well. Many times when we are traveling in a car when the baby needs a diaper change we stopped at fast food stops or garage stations.

Diaper Carriers are something that are also a great take along. At $10 they make the dull act of changing baby even more attractive. No need to drag the large diaper bag along when all you need to do is make a quick change. They fit perfect into the shopping cart or stroller making the small trip more enjoyable without having to drag around the diaper bag. Diaper clutches are made up of cotton canvas fabric, lined with white cotton diaper flannel and secured with a snap.


The folks at On The Go Designs would love to offer one of Annies Home readers a wipe case of their own.

To enter this giveaway visit the On The Go Designs website and let me know what product you admire

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Giveaway starts now and ends April 30, 2011 Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile

I would love to thank On The Go Designs for sponsoring this giveaway Thoughts and opinions shared on this post are those of mine alone.

Meat and Potato Meal

•1 lb. ground beef
 6 tbsp. butter
 3/4 tsp. salt
 1/8 tsp. pepper
 6 med. potatoes, baked
 1/4 cup milk
 1 small onion, minced
 1 tbsp. parsley flakes
 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
 1 can cheddar cheese soup
 3 slices process cheese, halved

Brown beef in 1 tbsp. butter in skillet; add the salt and pepper; set aside. Cut baked potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out pulp into large bowl. Mash and add remaining butter and the milk. Beat well and add beef and remaining ingredients, except cheese. Fill shells with the mixture and put on baking sheet. Top each with a half slice of cheese and bake in hot oven, 400 degrees, about 15 minutes.

shared on

Real Food Wednesday

Aloha Friday Posted on Saturday

Here is how Aloha Friday works from Kailani's blog An Island Life:



In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
 
With work and all I have not been able to read as many blogs as I love to so my question today is:
 
What is the title of your latest blog post. Leave the link and I will stop by for a visit as well

5 Q Friday on Saturday

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?
2. What was your best birthday ever?
3. What is your favorite dessert?
4. What is the best excuse you've ever used to get out of a ticket?
5. Do you wake up before your alarm, with your alarm, or after hitting snooze several times?
 
1. my favorite are the early spring flowers those are the first sign I notice
 
2. My 20th birthday I forgot it was my birthday I was taking care of my young children and life was running away from me very quickly. My mom remembered though and she made it a very special day
 
3. pumpkin pie
 
4. never had to I have only had 1 in my life time and there was no way to get out of it
 
5. I have been blessed with a husband that wakes me up each morning Thank goodness as I am sure I would not rise on time

Six Word Saturday

This week has lived up the weather that is expected in spring A mixture of warm, wet and today cool temps hopefully means that spring is here and that summer is soon to follow. After all April Showers mean May Showers My only question for today and my six word saturday entry is:


What Happened To The Warm Weather

new giveaways I entered

Cleaning up around here can often be seen as a bit of a chore. But add a new product to the cleaning line up and it becomes a bit of fun. I would love to win this electrolux to brighten the cleaning day up. You can enter to win at the blog Blommi.com Giveaway ends April 20

Summer time to our family is sandwich time. How fun it would be to have this fun panini sandwich maker. I can only imagine the flavorful sandwiches that my family could come up with. Enter to win this panini machine at Being Allison

Oh what great fun my grand-kids would have with this. A roller coaster from Step 2 so very cool and fun. I entered to win this on the blog Two of a Kind Working on a Full House and you can too Giveaway ends May 2, 2011

The Swiss Colony has many special treats that are perfect for the entire family. The sweets, cheese , sausages and the list goes on are all acceptable to me. That is why I entered the giveaway over at the blog Outnumbered 3 to1 The winner gets choice of spring item up to $30. Giveaway ends May 2, 2011

Adorable Peep Easter Treats

find out how they were made http://www.lovefromtheoven.com/2011/03/27/peeps-rice-krispies-treats-for-peeps-week/comment-page-1/#comment-1391

Come See What We Have To Share

Bonita J Earring Giveaway ends April 28, 2011
Are You Traveling
Easter Bunny Treats
Easter Bunny Cake Form
Easter Bird Nest Recipe
Dagwood Sandwich
Crane Air purifier Giveaway
MiracleBlanket Giveaway

A Few of My Favorite Recipes Shared this Week

Easter Bunny Treats

Do Ahead Breakfast Bake

Peanut Butter and Pretzel Cookies

Reuben Casserole

REUBEN CASSEROLE

2 tbs unsalted butter

14.5 oz can sauerkraut, drained

1 medium onion, sliced

1 cup dry white wine (or use chicken broth)

1 tsp caraway seeds

1 1/2 pounds potatoes

14 oz pkg light or turkey kielbasa sausage, sliced on the diagonal

2 tsp cornstarch

8 oz bag shredded Swiss cheese



(Heat oven to 375 degrees). Coat a baking dish with cooking spray. Melt butter in a skillet. Add onion and cook 5 min. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Stir sauerkraut and seeds into onion and toss. Return skillet to heat and add wine. Heat through. Thinly slice potatoes. Begin layering: Spread a layer of potatoes on the bottom of baking dish, overlapping. Top with half of the sauerkraut mixture and half of the kielbasa. In a bowl, toss cheese with cornstarch. Pour half of the wine over the kielbasa, then top with half the cheese. Add a second layer of potatoes, and the remaining sauerkraut and kielbasa. Pour remaining wine over kielbasa, then fan remaining potatoes over kielbasa. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Coat a sheet of foil with nonstick spray and cover dish. Bake, covered 40 min. Uncover and bake an additional 20 min. or until (potatoes are tender), then serve.

Now while this is called Reuben Casserole I recently attended a Taste of Home cooking class where the instructer shared it was easy to create our own casserole depending on the flavors we liked. In other words think of it as the sandwich casserole. Want a pepperoni and cheese then take out the corn beef and kraut and add pepperoni and cheese Want a ham and cheese add ham and cheese instead of the other. Get the idea? The choice is yours go wild you know your families taste the best

Bonita J Bridal Jewelry Review and Giveaway

Bonita J makes some of the prettiest and stylish jewelry. If you are looking for jewelry for the spring parties , prom, graduation, or weddings Bonita J can offer jewelry that will look great for any spring or summer event. Bonita J. has been a favorite sponsor of mine for quite some time. We have been able to review a few different beautiful pieces such as the starfish necklace and beautiful wedding jewelry this time we were able to review a beautiful pair of Carissa earrings.

   
Carissa Crystal & Pearl Linear Drop Earrings featuring Swarovski pearl and crystal

 This elegant style of earrings created by Bonita J are created with beauty in mind. Featuring Swarovski bicone shaped pearl and crystal are drop style earrings that drop to around 2" The earrings can be created to match the personality of the one to wear them. Customize the beautiful earrings by changing the metal type, pearl and crystal colors and with thousands of color combinations available they are easy to match up to the outfit they will be worn with These earrings are available on the Bonita J website for $21 That to me is a flattering price for a beautiful piece of jewelry.


 Believe me they are as beautiful as they look and when they catch the sunlight in such a way they seem to glisten. These earrings are they type that are perfect for that Bride who wants to look special, the girl in the prom dress who wants that special touch, they are even for the perfect summer top you plan to wear to the summer event where the memories will last a life time. The best thing about these beautiful earrings is that Bonita J would love to give you one of Annies Home readers a chance to win a pair of the beautiful Carissa earrings.

To enter the giveaway to win a pair of earrings for yourself visit Bonita J website and let me know what piece of jewelry catches your eye.

Extra Entries:

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• follow my blog on twitter leav username
• tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) leave link in comment
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Giveaway starts now and ends April 28, 2011. Good Luck. Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entry will not count.

I would love to thank Bonita J for sending me a pair of earrings to review and for sponsoring this giveaway. The thoughts shared in this post belong to me the author of this blog annies home.

What a Cute Cake for Spring or Mothers Day

check it out here

Welcome to My Blog

welcome to my blog while here check out some of my top read blog post as well as the current giveaways

Easter Bunny Treats
Miracle Blanket Giveaway ends April 26
Prepare to Stay Home or Go Out
Pillow Pet Easter Bunny giveaway ends April 14 tonight
Divvies Chocolates Easter Giveaway ends April 14 (tonight)
Lemon Cream Cheese Cupcakes
Easter Bird Nest Treat 
Caillou Doll and Bath Toy Review







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Beef and Tater Bake

4 cups frozen Tater Tots
1 pound ground beef
1 package (16 ounces) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of broccoli soup, undiluted
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 can (2.8 ounces) french-fried onions, divided
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1/3 cup 2% milk
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Directions
Place Tater Tots in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the broccoli, soup, tomato, 3/4 cup french-fried onions, 1/2 cup cheese, milk, garlic powder and pepper; heat through. Pour over Tater Tots.
Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining onions and cheese. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Yield: 12 servings.

taste of home recipe

Caesar Deviled Eggs

1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 garlic clove, grated

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

12 eggs

1 to 2 teaspoons anchovy paste

1/2 small onion, grated

1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 cups romaine lettuce, shredded

Yields: 6-8 servings

Put the eggs in a saucepan and fill halfway with cold water. Set over high heat and cover the pot with a lid. When the water boils, turn off the heat and place the lid over the pot of eggs and let sit 10 minutes.

Place the pot of cooked eggs in the sink and run some cold water over the eggs until both the water and the pan feel cool. When the eggs are cool enough to handle, roll each egg on a work surface to crack the shell. Carefully peel off the eggshells and discard.

Place the eggs on a cutting board and cut a quarter off the egg from the fat rounded end to expose the yolk. Next, cut just a sliver off the opposite end, the pointed end so the egg is able to sit upright without rolling over. Once all the eggs have been cut, scoop out their yolks into a medium size mixing bowl. Place the egg white halves back into the egg container for easy transport and filling, making sure the holes are pointing up so that you are able to fill them with the Caesar mixture.

To the bowl with the yolks add the anchovy paste, Worcestershire, mayonnaise, garlic, onion, Parmigiano-Reggiano, lemon juice, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mash up the yolks with a fork until the mixture is paste-like. Mix in half of the shredded romaine, reserving the rest for garnish.

Spoon the egg mixture into a plastic, re-sealable bag and squish it all into one of the bottom corners. Snip off the corner and squeeze out a bit of yolk mixture into each of the egg whites.


recipe source : rachael ray

Easter Bunny looking good as Cake or Cupcakes

This is the type of Easter Bunny cake that my mom would make each year. She would mix it up a bit each year decorating it a bit different but always using the same easy way to shape it You can check this recipe out at Kraft 








This is a new version of a easter bunny cake or in this case cupcake recipe to me. I love it and it looks very easy to make as well find this great recipe at Betty Crocker

Crane Frog Air Purifier Review and Giveaway

Have you been hearing it as of late? The sneezing, coughing, crouping and wheezing are all the sounds of early spring weather for those who suffer from allergies. There are certain things that we can do to help make us feel more comfortable. Using a Crane air purifier is one thing that you can do to make yourself or / and others feel better. Dust mites, pollen, mold and pet dander can all cause eyes to water, skin to be irritated, congestion, stuffy noses and bouts of coughing. Do you know someone who suffers from one of these allergies. Doctors have recommended for those with asthma and allergies to try to stay away from factors such as these. That is often easier said than done. The Crane Air Purifier is one of the easiest ways to clean the air in your home. We were recently sent a Frog Air Purifier with HEPA Type filter to review in our home.

The Crane’s new Frog Air Purifier with HEPA Type filter is available exclusively at Target. Not only does it look adorable but will help ease a child's allergy and asthmatic symptoms to help provide a more restful night.
The HEPA type filter helps to remove 95% of dust and airborne allergens. As a child I can remember the air purifiers of that day and time were very noisy. You will be glad to know that the Frog Air Purifier from Crane comes with three speeds and one of those is for quiet operation. Use is easy as it comes out of the box it is ready to use simply plug it in and use. It retails for around $39.99

The EPA estimates that indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. I know if you are like me this bothers you. As a parent we want to provide our children with the best of everything including good clean air. Crane Air purifiers are designed to eliminate impurities in the air, even those impurities which are so microscopic they are impossible to see.

Buy: you can purchase your Crane products from their website located at http://www.wk-usa.com/

Win: one of Annies Home readers will win their own Crane Frog Air Purifier

To enter this giveaway visit Crane and share with me another product you find and like

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog via gfc, subscribe to my blog, follow my blog on twitter (2 entries each)
• follow crane on twitter (3 entries)
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• tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited must be 3 hours apart)
• share this giveaway on your facebook, blog or other giveaway site and let me know link to what you did (5 entries each)

Giveaway starts now and ends 4/27 2011 Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries wil not count.


Thank You to Crane for allowing us to review your product and also sponsoring this giveaway The thoughts shared in this post are those of mine alone.

A Classic Family Recipe with Coca Cola #FamilyClassics

Coke is one thing that many members of my family can agree upon. While some of us may prefer the diet version of coca cola and others choose the coca cola in the red can we all are familiar with. While drinking coca cola is the way that many of us consume the sweet drink there are also many recipes that include coca cola as an important ingredient. One of my favorite recipes that I remember from my childhood is Bing Cherry Salad or others may refer to it as Coca Cola Salad This salad would often be served along side a meal of pork chops and potatoes but would also appear on the table during the holidays. So this is a very versatile recipe because it could be used for both casual and formal type of meals and was.

Bing Cherry Salad or Coca Cola Salad

2 boxes black cherry Jello


20 oz. coke

1 lg. crushed pineapple

1 lg. can sour pitted cherries, drained

1/2 c. pecans, chopped

1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened



To start with the pineapple must first be drained saving the juice into a pan. Into the pan of pineapple juice add coke and bring the mixture to a boil. The jello should be placed into a large mixing bowl and the hot liquid will be poured over top. Mix the nuts, cream cheese which should be soft, cherries and pineapple together in seperate bowl. Now you will want to mix all the ingredients together. This mixture should be poured into a casserol, jello mold or other serving dish Chill til firm and Serve. 
 
I often tease my mom about being the jello queen. I call her the jello queen because ever since I was a young girl I can remember her making special salads and desserts using the base of jello. She was a mom who had 5 children , worked full time, and still made beautiful home cooked meals for her family she needed something quick and easy to prepare for her family. The addition of coca cola in this salad offers a taste of familiarity as well as a crispness that taste great. The coca cola in this salad helps to offer an old fashioned cherry cola taste to me. Yes Coca Cola has for long time been a favorite of my moms I can remember her telling me about the days when she was in high school and would go to the drugstore where she we would order a coca cola at the counter in the back of the store. Occasionally she would order a chocolate coca cola or a vanilla coca cola and daddy loved the cherry coca cola. Did you all know that there were so many delicious flavors to go with Coca Cola? I have always thought about sitting at the counter of the drugstore on one of those swirly stools sipping on a coca cola with ice. Oh what a flirt I would be (LOL)
 
Do you have any recipes where the ingredient of Coca Cola is present? I would love it if you would share it with me.
 
Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program, click here.

Wee Bit Wednesday

{one} have you ever fainted?

nope. never.

{two} what is your favorite casino game?

the slot machines are more along my line of games I love or maybe the old atari las vegas casino game does anyone besides me remember this game?

{three} do you have a good sense of direction?

I have to confess I do not I rely on my husband and children to know where we are going because unless I have been there several times there is no way i will find my way back

{four} laptop or desktop?

laptop I bought with a gc I earned from staples

{five} what is your go-to hair style when having a bad hair day?

pulled back in a poneytail many days this is the way I wear it unless I am going out

{six} do you read the newspaper on a daily basis?

I prefer the online version of newspapers or watching news on T.V.

{seven} do you have a favorite celebrity chef?

I love many including Paula Dean and Racheal Ray.

{eight} what tv show would you like to make a guest appearance on?

I would love to have been on Roseanne when she was on but now I want to swap stories with the mom in Parenthood

{nine} do you have satellite radio in your car?

No

{ten} what was the last movie that made you cry?

I cry at so many shows and movies last night I wept at the biggest loser  LOL

Banana Split Trifle

2 (3.4-ounce) boxes banana cream instant pudding and pie filling mix, Jell-O®


2 (3-ounce) packages ladyfingers, torn, divided

2 cups coarsely chopped fresh pineapple, divided

4 bananas, sliced and divided

1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries, divided

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, Domino®

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Garnish: maraschino cherries, chocolate syrup, banana slices, chopped pineapple, chopped cashews


Prepare pie filling according to package directions. In a trifle dish, arrange half of ladyfinger pieces. Top with 1 cup pineapple, half of banana slices, 3/4 cup strawberries, and half of pudding. Repeat layers once. Cover and chill 30 for minutes. In a medium bowl, beat cream and sugar at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Beat in vanilla. Spread whipped cream over trifle. Garnish with cherries, syrup, banana slices, pineapple, and cashews. Heat glaze according to package directions; drizzle cake with desired amount of glaze. Store any remaining glaze according to package directions.



recipe source Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade

Betty Crocker Do Ahead Breakfast Bake

1 cup diced fully cooked ham (6 oz)


2 boxes Betty Crocker® Seasoned Skillets® hash brown potatoes

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)

1 tablespoon dried chopped onion

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

1 cup Original Bisquick® mix

3 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon pepper

4 eggs

Grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. Layer ham, potatoes, bell pepper, onion and 1 cup of the cheese in baking dish. In large bowl, stir Bisquick mix, milk, pepper and eggs until blended. Pour into baking dish; sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Heat oven to 375ºF. Bake uncovered 30 to 35 minutes or until light golden brown around edges and cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes.

recipe source: Betty Crocker

Caillou Doll and Bath Time Play Set Review

Princess loves caillou and if you know a toddler or preschooler I am sure they probably know who Caillou is as well Caillou has his own show on PBS This adventurous little character demonstrates courage by facing challenges every day. Believe it or not preschoolers do face challenges they may not be as hard as the ones they will face when they get older but they are still challenges. Caillou is the sort of character that can help them understand that they too can be strong when facing challenges.

ID Toys have a toy line featuring Caillou. We were able to review the Caillou doll and Caillou BathTime Vehicle. Princess loves to play in the tub and we were thankful when we were selected to review both toys. The Caillou Doll is about 14.5 inches long. Just the perfect size to be a tag along to Princess who is 30 months old. Toddlers love to have a best friend and that is exactly what Caillou is. You can find the Caillou doll at a decent price around $29.99 He has a soft belly with head, arms and feet made of vinyl. This is great as little ones still have a tendency to tug, pull, and even chew on toys the vinyl should stand up nicely.

Princess will have a great time playing with the bath time set in the tub or pool. Summer will be here shortly and the pool will be a place that Princess spends a lot of time. The bathtime playset is rather cool and included a boat with detachable motor, a sail, Caillou, and his dog. The figures of Caillou and his dog separate from the boat allowing the possibilities to build and change the playset helping to strenghten skills that toddlers need. Another great feature of the boat is its propeller which easily winds up and turns very cool. This is both easy and safe for the toddler because when little fingers get in the way it automatically stops and because it runs on simple windup energy it stops as easily as it starts. You can find the Caillou Bath Time Set for around $16.99 ]

You can find these and other Caillou toys at Toys 'R Us stores and online at www.toysrus.com.

This review was sponsored by TeamMom and ID toys. I would like to thank both of them The thoughts and expressions shared in this post are those of mine alone.

MiracleBlanket Giveaway

Many of you know that we added a new member to our family a few months ago in February. Our little prince was born oh what a little sweetheart. He is perfect with all his fingers and toes but there is one slight complaint he is a very fussy baby. I can remember his mother as a newborn child she had colic and I have never seen a baby as fussy as her. One product that helps us now that we were not aware of way back when is the miracleblanket.

What is a miracleblanket? The miracleblanket is guaranteed to stop colic. Wow!!! Now that is something that I could use all those years ago. The miracleblanket helps fussy babies sleep great. Now that is something that parents and baby can both use. The miracleblanket works great for any baby in helping to ease the baby. Because the miracleblanket is developed to swaddle the baby it also helps to prevent facial scratches. Softness is a key issue as the miracleblanket is made of 100% high quality cotton. Because it has been proven that babies sleeping on their back helps prevent SIDS the miracle blanket is devised to help do just that. one thing that my daughter learned when Princess would not sleep is that she often woke herself up by twitching. She used the miracleblanket with Princess and learned that it helped her stay asleep by slowing or stopping the twitches. 









The miracleblanket makes a perfect baby shower gift or gift for new parents. Perhaps you are having a child of your own and would love to have a miracleblaket as well. I have great news for you. One of Annies Home readers will be able to get a miracleblanket of their own.

To enter this giveaway visit the MiracleBlannket website and let me know which pattern you would choose if you were the lucky winner.

Extra Entries:

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• tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited)
• blog about this giveaway (10 entries) leave link in comment
• comment on any post on this blog (2 entries each)

Giveaway starts now and ends April 26, 2011. Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count. Good Luck

this giveaway is sponsored by MiracleBlanket The thoughts I shared were ones that we took note of through an independent review not sponsored.

Peanut Butter and Pretzel Cookies

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 cup smooth peanut butter

2 eggs, at room temperature

1/3 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped

6 cups miniature pretzels, chopped

Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350°. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, beating until just combined; stir in the peanuts. Place the pretzels in a bowl. Using a 1 1/2-inch-diameter cookie scoop and working in batches, drop a few balls of dough in the bowl and toss to coat. Place the cookies on the prepared pans. Bake, rotating the pans after 10 minutes, until golden but still soft to the touch, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before transferring to racks to cool.

Bubble Time

Princess has started loving bubbles. I can remember my own children at this age and the numerous times I had to remake the bubble mixture. I found this idea here where you can also find recipes for bubbles.

Cheese Cake Easter Basket Treats

here is a new twist on Easter desserts these are little cheesecakes decorated for easter find out how to make these here

Easter Bunny Treats

Easter Bunny Treats
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
OR
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies®
Canned frosting or decorating gel
Pink construction paper cut into bunny ears
Assorted candies

In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
Using 1/3-cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into ball. Use frosting to attach two balls together, forming bunny body and head. Repeat with remaining balls. Use frosting to attach paper ears. Decorate wtih frosting and/or candies for eyes, mouth, whiskers and tail. Best if served same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 thru 4 above. Microwave cooking times may vary

http://www.incourage.me/2011/04/special-easter-traditions.html