Marianna | Connecticut Mom Blog

Green Giveaway Friday 2/17

2012-02-16T21:05:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday! I hope everyone enjoys the long President's Day weekend!

Please add both your green and non-green giveaways and contests into Mr. Linky below so we can do some giveaway hopping! Be sure to include the expiration date. Thanks!

You can also submit your green giveaways to me during the week for me to feature on Fridays.

The Art of Random Willy-Nillyness
SnapSac Tote Bundle 2/29

Crunchy Beach Mama
$5 Starbucks Gift Card 2/27
$235 Paypal Cash 2/20

Family Focus Blog
NOVICA $50 Gift Card 2/20
Eco Prize Pack 2/22
Green Store $50 Gift Card 2/28

Just Another New Blog
$25 GC to Goat Milk Stuff 2/27

Wordless Wednesday: Valentine's Chocolates

2012-02-14T23:52:00.000-05:00

Last year for Valentine's Day all I asked my husband for was a box of chocolates from Bridgewater Chocolate in Connecticut. He delivered and I was one extremely happy lady. This year, I didn't ask for anything. But he remembered last year and this time got me TWO boxes of chocolates. What a perfect gift - these are the best chocolates in Connecticut!

I love their pretty packaging.

Mmmmmmm...truffles. I could not contain myself and ate most before I could even take a photo.

Day 2 Day Printing Business Card #Giveaway

2012-02-14T14:25:00.000-05:00

As a blogger, having a professional, eye-catching business card is an absolute must. Not only for handing out to family, friends and acquaintances, but especially for attending blog events and conferences. To be honest, I rarely hand them out to people I already know, but they sure did come in handy in all of my blog related travels in January. At the Ford event in Detroit, I was able to exchange cards with other bloggers so that we could follow each other and keep in touch once we returned home. Out in San Francisco for the Star Wars event, I exchanged cards with a PR rep which is really good. I am so glad I had a stack of business cards with me at both events.

I am in the process of redesigning my business cards to match my new blog name and look that you see here. It is important for me to use an online printing company that not only offers outstanding quality and flexibility, but also has some eco-friendly printing options available. Day 2 Day Printing meets all of those needs. For their business card printing, you can choose to use their online design tool which offers a large selection of images or you can download one of their templates to create your own design. You even get free UV coating with your order. When completed, they will provide you with a free PDF proof for you to approve before they start printing.

A big bonus for me is they they use eco-friendly soy inks in their printing as well as zero VOC press washes and recycled papers. In reading a little more about their "green Printing" efforts, I've learned that Day 2 Day printing is dedicated to being efficient and minimizing wastes and recycle whatever wastes they do have, such as paper and empty ink cans.

Whether you are looking to make a great first impression with a professional business card or spreading the word about your business with a quality flyer, Day 2 Day Printing has got all of your printing needs covered.

Connect
Stay connected with Day 2 Day Printing by visiting their Printing Blog, following Day 2 Day Printing on Twitter and Liking Day 2 Day Printing on Facebook.

Giveaway
Two (2) winners will each receive 1,000 standard size, full color business cards from Day 2 Day Printing. Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below.

This giveaway is sponsored by Day2DayPrinting.com and is open to legal residents in US only, 18+ only and will end on February 29, 2012 at 12:01am EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Rafflecopter and will be posted on the Winner's Announcement Page. Winner has 48 hours to claim his/her prize otherwise a new winner will be picked. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Prize fulfillment is the responsibility of the sponsoring company. This blog and its author are not responsible for giveaway prizes that are lost in transit or damaged. This blog is also not responsible if a sponsor/company does not send prize(s). Naturally, I will communicate with said company(s) several times, and make every effort to resolve the issue. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

M-Edge Kindle Touch Accessories Review

2012-02-13T12:59:00.005-05:00

For Christmas, I bought myself a Kindle Touch with all of the $5 Amazon cards I had earned through Swagbucks throughout the year. (If you don't do Swagbucks, you really should. Go. Now.) This is my first ever eReader and I immediately fell in love with it. I also quickly realized that I needed to get some accessories to protect it. I definitely needed a case so I could safely transport it but I was also really nervous about the touch screen getting damaged, so it needed a screen protector as well. After asking around a bit I found that M-Edge Accessories were recommended my many people.

M-Edge offers a wide selection of accessories for not only eReaders like the Kindle and Nook, but for smartphones and tablets as well. They were extremely generous to me and sent a pack of screen protectors, a book light and a jacket for me to review for my Kindle Touch.

Screen Protectors
The M-Edge Screen Protector set is a 2 pack that comes with two screen protectors, two LCD screen protectors (for Nook), and screen cleaning cloth and is compatible with 2nd and 3rd Generation Kindle, nook, Kobo, and Sony Reader. It was fairly easy for me to place this on my Kindle Touch screen. The most difficult part is getting all of the lint and dust off of the screen first. I used the provided cloth which worked well, but apparently my house is dusty because little flecks kept falling back on. Once I got it as clean as I could, I lined up the edge of the film with the screen and slowly rolled it on, using the card included to flatten out any air bubbles. There is a very tiny gap between the edge of the film and the edge of the screen, but it is barely noticeable. Once I got the air bubbles out, the protector blended right in and you don't even notice it is there. I have had no issues with glare and its easy to wipe clean. The photo below shows my Kindle Touch without the protector and with. The glare you see in the after picture is due to my flash that I forgot to turn off. Price: $19.99.

Executive Jacket
There are quite a few jackets and sleeves to choose from for your Kindle, even ones you can personalize. I chose to go with the M-Edge Executive Jacket because it seemed like it was the sturdiest and I wanted something that opened like a book. Plus, I love how it looks in purple. The outside is microfiber leather, available in purple, black or red, and the inside is a soft grey microsuede. The Kindle is held in place by a four point mounting system and believe me, the device does not budge. There is a pocket on the left which is great for tucking in some notes, a shopping list or even some business cards. This jacket is also compatible with the M-Edge e-Luminator Touch Booklight. One of my favorite features of the Executive Jacket is that I can access all ports without having to take my Kindle out of the jacket. So that means when I need to plugin to charge it, I don't need to worry about taking it out and a pair of tiny hands getting a hold of it. My other favorite feature is that the jacket cover folds back so you can hold it easier while reading. On my recent trip to San Francisco, I was so glad to have this jacket. I was able to tuck this inside my purse, which let's face it, is a bottomless pit of stuff, and the jacket kept it safe and sound. I spent the entire flight home reading the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy and the jacket was very comfortable to hold in my hand. Price: $39.99.

e-Luminator Touch Booklight
I never even thought about getting a booklight but once I started using this one, I realized what a necessity it is for me. Not only allows me to read in bed late at night without disturbing my husband, but it is also good for me in low lighting settings where my eyes strain to read. If you are going to invest in an eReader, I highly recommend getting some sort of light for it. M-Edge e-Luminator Touch Booklight uses a super bright LED light bulb that never needs replacing and requires just one AAA battery. There are three light intensity settings (low, medium and high) which are operated by a simple touch of your finger. On the medium setting, the battery can provide 20+ hours of light. The flexible steel neck allows for a full range of positions and the paper clip style support arm lets you hook the light onto books and magazines as well. The arm slides into a sleeve in compatible M-Edge jackets and sleeves. My only complaint is that it took some force and shimmying for me to get mine all the way in. But since I have no plans on taking it out, it doesn't present any problems. As I mentioned earlier, I started reading The Hunger Games on my flight home from San Francisco, and I used this light almost the entire time. Once they turn out the lights and all you have is your little overhead reading light, it wasn't enough for me. So I turned on M-Edge e-Luminator Touch Booklight. I spent probably a good 6 hours reading that day and night (I finished the book when I got home) and the light lasted through the entire day. Even now, almost two weeks later, I am still going on the original battery. Price: $19.99.

I could not be more pleased with all of my M-Edge Kindle Touch accessories. Every single one of them has met my expectations and then some. I honestly love them almost as much as my Kindle itself and I definitely would not want to be without them. Regardless of what eReader yo choose to go with, you will want to protect that investment so it stays with you for many years. M-Edge offers a variety of products that will help you do just that.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. I received free product to review.

Valentine's Day Date Ideas in Connecticut

2012-02-10T20:11:00.000-05:00

As Valentine's Day grows near, many of us are trying to plan a special day with our loved ones. Perhaps a romantic dinner without kids or just taking in a movie. If you live in Connecticut, I have a few unique and fun Valentine's Day date ideas for you, courtesy of the Connecticut Office of Tourism.

My absolute favorite gift to get on Valentine's day is chocolate, and I know I am not alone. Why not take that to the next level and spend your day enjoying delicious chocolates from around the state? Connecticut is home to many chocolatiers and local chocolate artisans who serve up hand-made chocolate that melts in your mouth. CTVisit.com has put together a Connecticut Chocolate Trail list so you and your sweet can taste them all! My personal favorite is Bridgewater Chocolate - there chocolate is to die for.

What could be more romantic than a horse-drawn carriage ride through the countryside? Nothing, that's what. At Allegra Farm you can enjoy a romantic ride while taking in the beautiful scenery. I suggest stopping at a Connecticut chocolatier first and enjoy eating that while in the carriage. Carriage rides are by appointment only, so reserve your spot soon.

If you are looking for a truly romantic restaurant setting, than Apricot's Restaurant in Farmington might be a good choice for you. Located along the banks of the Farmington River, you can have a nice quiet meal with your significant other while overlooking the water.

After you have enjoyed your chocolate, carriage ride and a lovely meal, you can finish the night off with a stop at Sea Tea Improv in Hartford for a little Valentine's Day fun. They have put together an improvised comedy show all about love and relationships just for this day. Spots are filling up quick so be sure to reserve your spot.

This is just a taste of what Connecticut has to offer and you can find so much more at CTVisit.com.

Do you know of any other great places to spend Valentine's Day in Connecticut? Please share them with me, I'd love to hear all about them.

What Do Women Really Want for Valentine's Day?

2012-02-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

OK ladies, we are just a few days away from Valentine's Day! Have you told you significant other what it is that you want this year? Or does he/she already know the perfect gift for you? According to this infographic, the number one thing ladies want on Valentine's Day is a romantic dinner. I was surprised to see that chocolate came in at number six. For me, chocolate is all I really want on Valentine's Day. Not only is it my number one, but numbers two, three four and five as well. I mean sure I love a dinner out without children, especially one that I don't have to cook myself, but the best way to my heart is definitely with chocolate.

What is it that you really want for Valentine's Day this year?

by Pronto.

Green Giveaway Friday 2/10

2012-02-09T23:23:00.002-05:00

It looks like we will be bracing for a big snowstorm here in Connecticut over the weekend. I was really hoping we could finish the winter without one. I am not a fan of snow.

Please add both your green and non-green giveaways and contests into Mr. Linky below so we can do some giveaway hopping! Be sure to include the expiration date. Thanks!

You can also submit your green giveaways to me during the week for me to feature on Fridays.

3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires
SnapSac Tote Bundle 2/13

The Art of Random Willy-Nillyness
SnapSac Tote Bundle 2/29

Crunchy Beach Mama
$5 to Starbucks 2/10
$235 Paypal Cash 2/20

Family Focus Blog
Ozeri Green Earth Cookware 2/16
NOVICA $50 Gift Card 2/20
Eco Prize Pack 2/22

Just Another New Blog
Set of Natural Teeth Cleaners 2/13

Panko Breaded Chicken Fingers Recipe

2012-02-09T13:52:00.002-05:00

We eat a lot of chicken in our house. A lot. Mainly because the kids don't really like other meats and chicken is less expensive, which is important for a large family on a budget. While I generally like to keep our meals healthy, eventually you just get sick of eating baked chicken over and over again. So last week I decided to change it up and go the not so healthy route of fried chicken fingers. Now in my defense I didn't deep fry them, just in a pan with a little extra virgin olive oil. That makes them a little more healthy, right? Well, that's what I keep telling myself anyway.

Panko Breaded Chicken Fingers

Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast halves or tenders, pounded to about 1/4 inch thick
panko breadcrumbs
flour
2 large eggs
1 tbsp milk
extra virgin olive oil

Directions
1. Slice chicken into desired "finger" sized pieces. I usually start with boneless skinless chicken breast tenders that I pound thin and then slice them diagnolly to get a chicken finger size. If you start with the larger breast halves, you'll just have to slice a few more times.

2. Coat a large saute pan with a thin layer of extra virgin olive oil and heat on medium-low.

3. Set up three good sized bowls for dipping. The first bowl should have flour, you can start with a cup and add more if needed. In the second bowl whisk together your eggs and milk. And fill the third bowl (or dish) with breadcrumbs.

4. Start the chicken finger assembly line. Take a piece of chicken and coat with flour, then dunk in egg mixture and then coat in breadcrumbs. I set these all aside on a plate until I am ready to put them all in the pan. I don't want to have to go back and forth between dipping and frying.

5. Once all of your chicken is ready, place them in the pan. I was able to get mine done in one batch. If I am making more than a pound, then I use two pans that way all of the chicken is cooking at the same time.

6. Once the bottoms start to brown, probably around 5-6 minutes, flip over and continue to cook for another 5-6 minutes. I always cut one open to be sure its cooked throughouly, just to be safe.

7. Place finished chicken on a dish lined with two paper towels and place another paper towel on top of chicken to absorb as much excess oil as possible.

8. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

When I made this chicken last week, I very badly wanted some honey mustard sauce to dip it in, but all I had was spicy brown mustard. I thought why not just combine that with some honey? It could work right? It could and it did. I realize that this is cheating and not the same as making it from scratch, but I simply don't have the time for that. So I took equal parts spicy brown mustard and honey and mixed them together and made myself a very tasty sauce. Even my 6 year old loved it. It was perfect!

Star Wars Weekend Day 2: Presidio of San Francisco #StarWars3D

2012-02-08T01:00:00.001-05:00

As if spending a day at Skywalker Ranch wasn't amazing enough, our Star Wars weekend wasn't over just yet. Sunday, January 29 was the second and final day of the Star Wars press junket for the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace in 3D on February 10. Since our bodies were still stuck on Eastern time, we woke up nice and early and enjoyed our first breakfast of the day while watching The Clone Wars on Cartoon Network.It was actually the perfect start to our morning.

This day's journey would take us on a quick bus ride over to The Presidio of San Francisco. Once a military post, The Presidio is now a 1,491-acre national park site and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Are. I wasn't really sure what would we see here, but the minute we drove into the park it took my breath away. No matter which direction you turned, you were surrounded by beautiful landscaping, buildings and views of San Francisco.

Now in addition to being a beautiful park, some of George Lucas' companies are headquartered here. The Letterman Digital Arts Center is the combined home of Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm and LucasArts. Leave it to Mr. Lucas to pick such a beautiful backdrop to work at. I could not even imagine getting to go to work here every day. Just amazing.

The first event of the day was breakfast and for my son and I, this would be our second breakfast. Hey what can I say, time changes make us hungry. At the door we were greeted by some Storm Troopers who are members of the local 501st Legion. In order to be a member of The 501st, you must make your own costume.

Once inside we walked to a lovely cafeteria where a delicious Boba Fett breakfast was set up for us. Despite already having a plate of Ritz Carlton pancakes earlier that morning, my six year old had two servings of scrambled eggs as well as more pancakes. I am a little nervous about what he is going to eat like as a teenager. Four teenage boys with big appetites scares me.

While we sat and enjoyed our meal, the Storm Troopers marched around the room. I tried to get W to take a picture with them, but he refused. Much to his surprise, the Storm Troopers came to him.

"These aren't the eggs you're looking for."

We also were thrilled to see everyone's favorite Astromech Droid rolling through the room. R2-D2 made his way around to all the tables, stopping to take photos with us all. I want my own R2-D2 for my home, there is so much he could help me with. After a lot of coaxing, I got my son to take a picture with me and R2.

But wait, there is more! The cafeteria is enclosed by three walls of windows which give you a beautiful view over the grounds at The Presidio. So not only did we get to enjoy a delicious breakfast with some cool Star Wars characters, but we also got to look out the window at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Directly across from where we were was this beautiful dome building that I had spotted when we first arrived. I took a few pictures and kept thinking that it was somewhat familiar looking to me. Finally it hit me. Now maybe it is just a coincidence, but it sure does have a similar style so the dome buildings of Naboo, doesn't it? I wonder if Lucas and the artists were inspired by this building at The Presidio?

Building at The Presidio

Naboo Buildings

After breakfast, the parent bloggers and kids were able to have a round table interview with some of the top guys we had spoken with at Skywalker Ranch: John Goodson of Industrial Light & Magic, Matthew Wood of Skywalker Sound (a.k.a General Grievous) and Craig Derrick of LucasArts.

John Goodson, Matthew Wood and Craig Derrick.

This was mostly a kid driven interviews so all of the kids got to ask them some questions which was neat. My son asked John Goodson about the Death Star models:

W: What kind of model is the Death Star?
John Goodson: What kind of model is it? Well, there are a couple different models. The first Death Star was just a ball, and it had lights inside of it, and it had little fiber optics, but basically it made little windows on it that lit up, and it was about this big. (Uses hands to show size) And that one got blown up at the end of Episode IV. Then, they made another one for Return of the Jedi, and that one was about four feet across, but it was only half of it. So because you only saw one side of it, and it has all these sections cut out of it where they're building it. It's under construction. And it had all kinds of little intricate stuff inside and more of those little fiber optics that made little lights in there. So, in reality, there were three feet and four feet.

After the interview we got an awesome tour, mostly of the Industrial Light & Magic area. Every hall you walked down, every corned you turned was lined with various models from movies they worked on. And we aren't just talking about Star Wars movies as ILM works on so much more than that. You should recognize these two models, Davy Jones and E.T.

Model of Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Model of E.T.

As we made our way through the ILM halls, we stopped and peaked into John Goodson's office. This is by far the coolest office ever.

The we made our way into a room with various Star Wars models and I was face to face with Han Solo frozen in carbonite. Even as I recount this story for you all, I still can't believe I was a part of this and got to see so much cool stuff. I mean its Han Solo! In carbonite!

Just a few feet to the left of poor Han was another slab of carbonite, but not one I had ever seen before. Apparently, a fan made this for George Lucas and he liked it so much that he kept it and put it on display. I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that this particular fan was trying to show how much people disliked the character of Jar Jar Binks.

Of course, no Star Wars trip would be complete without a Yoda sighting.

As our tour winded down, we were finally at the main event. This is what we were here for: the screening of Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace in 3D! It has been so long since I saw a Star Wars movie on a big screen, so I was super excited and I think might have even gotten a few chills. For my son, he had never seen a Star Wars movie in the theater, so he was even more excited! Mostly to see Darth Maul fighting in 3D, of course. We thoroughly enjoyed it and I was told that we need to go see it again with his brothers.

When the movie was over, we knew our amazing weekend was coming to a close. We all headed out to a beautiful courtyard for lunch. Many people had planes to catch, so they quickly grabbed their food and ran for the shuttles. We were fortunate enough to be staying one more night which bought us a little more time to enjoy our lunch. And yes, the Storm Troopers were back!

The centerpiece of this courtyard is a gorgeous water fountain with a statue of Yoda on the top. My husband had told me about it and to look for it, but he thought it was at Skywalker Ranch. So I was glad that we found it here and I was able to snap some pictures for him. Again, I cannot even imagine how great it is to come into work every day to this.

Sadly, our time at the Star Wars press junket was at an end and it was time for us to board the bus and head back to our hotel room. This was one of the most amazing trips ever and I know it is something that my son will never forget. Not many people can say they toured Skywalker Ranch or the Letterman Digital Arts Center, but we can!

Thank you for following along on our fun adventure and don't forget to check out Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace in 3D on February 10! May the force be with you.

For more information on Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace in 3D be sure to visit the official movie site, like Star Wars on Facebook and follow Star Wars on Twitter (#StarWars3D)

My son and I were guests of 20th Century Fox for this amazing weekend. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Many thanks to 20th Century Fox for giving my son and I the experience of a lifetime!

Wordless Wednesday: Cloudy Sky

2012-02-07T21:32:00.003-05:00

I am still slightly obsessed with taking photos of the sky with my iPhone. It is a fun way to pass the time while we wait for the bus in the morning.

Our Day at Skywalker Ranch #StarWars3D

2012-02-03T23:16:00.001-05:00

On Friday, January 27 my oldest son and I headed out to San Francisco to attend a Star Wars press junket for the anticipated release of Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace in 3D, which hits theaters on February 10. This was my first time ever to California and his first time ever on a plane, so it was a pretty exciting day for both of us. Neither of us could wait to get there and head over to Skywalker Ranch! Skywalker Ranch in not open to the public so for huge Star Wars fans like us, this is a pretty big deal. We were both a little giddy about the whole thing.

We started with a quick plane ride from Connecticut to Washington, D.C. where we had the worst connecting flight situation ever. I had 40 minutes to get us from Terminal A to the far end of Terminal D and we made it with less than5 minutes to spare, running the entire way. My poor six year old was exhausted. Thankfully we had a lovely flight from there to San Francisco. Once we landed we met up with Letica from Tech Savvy Mama and Matt of Geek Dad and headed off to the prestigious Ritz Carlton. When we arrived in our room, it was about 11:30 our time and we were beat. But things quickly picked up when we found these goodies on our bed.

This was just the perfect way to end our long day and now we were even more excited for what Saturday would have in store for us. Luckily, we had Saturday morning free to do as we please so we watched a little TV, showered and then headed out for a little sight seeing in San Francisco, which I'll do another post on. We joined the other parent bloggers and their children for lunch and then we all got on the bus to start out journey over to Skywalker Ranch. Our bus ride started with a quick drive out of the city and then over the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge.

After a little bit of time on the highway, we exited at Lucas Valley Road. After doing a little research I found that the road is actually NOT named after George Lucas, but it is still pretty cool. We were on this road for quite some time, weaving through the beautiful mountains.

When we finally pulled up to the gate at Skywalker Ranch, you could feel the excitement from everyone on the bus growing. The archway in the photo below, though hard to read here, says Skywalker Ranch in Italian.

When we arrived there was a beautiful red firetruck to greet us. Skywalker Ranch does have its own fire station which not only serves the ranch, but it also responds to other emergencies in the surrounding areas.

Directly across from where we were standing outside of the Tech Building was a mountain side filled with cattle. Skywalker Ranch isn't called a ranch just for the fun of it, it actually is a working ranch with cattle, horses, vineyards, olive trees and more. The cows were nice enough to greet us with a few louds "moos."

A brief walk down the road, on the way to the Fitness Building, is the lovely Lake Ewok. There is a dock out in the middle so I have to wonder if LucasFilm staff cool off in there during the warm summer months.

The Tech Building houses Skywalker Sound and is where we spent much of our time. From the outside you can see the beautiful brick work and if I remember correctly, those were olive trees out front. Or grape vines. At this point I was still pretty giddy so some of the finer details are a bit fuzzy.

Before heading inside for more of the tour, the kids of our parent blogger group had a little light saber fun together. Periodically throughout the day, light saber battles would erupt. Hey when you hand 8 kids super cool lightsabers, its bound to happen.

Once inside we were greeted with an Xbox Kinect demonstration with the soon to be released Star Wars Kinect game. My son decided not to try it out, but we watched a lot of the other children play and it looks like a lot of fun. If only we had an Xbox in our house. Also on display were some props from Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace, including these three famous lightsabers. The back dual lightsaber of course belongs to Darth Maul, front left to Qui Gon Jin and front right to Obi Wan Kenobi.

Yoda was also there to provide us with some healthy snacks and refreshments. Thank goodness because we were still on Eastern time and even though it was 3:00pm in California, it was dinner time back home in Connecticut and for our stomachs. I just have to say that I would love to have this in my kitchen, a huge Yoda fruit bowl! How cool would that be?

We then made our rounds to various "workshops." First up was John Goodson, a digital artist for Industrial Light & Magic. In addition to working on Star Wars Episodes 1, 2 and 3, he has also worked on hit films Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Transformers and the upcoming The Avengers - which we can't wait to see!

John Goodson talked to the kids about the many models he worked on for The Phantom Menace, including this full size model of young Anakin's pod racer.

Next we were able to chat with Matthew Wood who is the Supervising Sound Editor for Skywalker Sound. Matthew also worked on Episodes 1, 2 and 3 as well as The Clone Wars animated movie. He talked to us about how he add sounds to the movies, for example many of the pod racer sounds he recorded himself. Some were of Ferrari engines, Porsche engines and even speedboat engines. But the coolest thing about Matthew is that he is the voice of General Grievous as well as the Battle Droids. So it was kind of like we were sitting there talking to Grievous himself.

While we were talking to Matthew Wood we were seated inside the sound studio where he does much of his work. Often times George Lucas comes in to see what they are doing and it just so happens that my son was sitting in the same chair that Lucas sits in. The kids were then even able to do a little voice over themselves as Battle Droids which was a lot of fun.

Finally, it was time for the event that my son had been waiting for all day: lightsaber training! We made our to a theater where we were greeted by ObiShawn. In addition to going over some lightsaber moves like the salute, ObiShawn also did a little Jedi mentoring. He told the kids that if they wanted to be good Jedi's, they had to keep on top of all of their studies and to find something they are really passionate about and strive to be good at it. Great advice ObiShawn!

My son absolutely loved his lightsaber training with ObiShawn and he is still talking about it almost a week later. Just look at that smile! Today he even put on his Jedi robe and practiced some moves in his bedroom.

After we were done with our workshops we got back on the bus and headed back to the hotel. We ordered a little room service for dinner and W could not stop talking about how this was the best day ever. I have to agree with him, it was an amazingly cool day!

I will be posting about Day 2 at Presidio of San Fransisco soon which is the home of Industrial Light & Magic, LucasFilm and LucasArts. So much more cool stuff to come so stay tuned!

For more information on Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace in 3D be sure to visit the official movie site, like Star Wars on Facebook and follow Star Wars on Twitter (#StarWars3D)

My son and I were guests of 20th Century Fox for this amazing weekend. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. Many thanks to 20th Century Fox for giving my son and I the experience of a lifetime!

Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace 3D in Theaters February 10 #StarWars3D

2012-02-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

It is no secret that my family loves anything and everything Star Wars. Our boys have seen all six Star Wars movies countless times and they never get tired of watching them. But one thing they have never experienced is seeing any of the Star Wars live action films on the big screen. There is just something completely different about seeing a movie in theaters, even if you have already seen it a million times at home.

So when I heard that Episode 1 The Phantom Menace was being released in 3D in theaters this month, I immediately became excited for my boys. Now they could watch Darth Maul battle Obi Wan and Qui Gon on the big screen and now in 3D!

My son and I had the privilege of watching an advance screening of the movie when we were in San Francisco at the amazing press junket over the weekend. He was a little disappointed at first when he realized it was not a new Darth Maul movie, but that quickly vanished once the movie started and the characters came to life in front of his 3D glasses.

"Mommy, with these glasses on its like everything is right in front of me!"

He was genuinely thrilled with it and really enjoyed being able to watch one of his favorite movies in the theater for the first time. Even if your child has already seen this at home, I highly recommend that you take them to the theater to see Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace in 3D. They will love it all over again!

Official Movie Site: www.starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-i-3d/
Star Wars on Facebook: facebook.com/StarWars
Star Wars on Twitter: twitter.com/starwars

Green Giveaway Friday 2/3

2012-02-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

So it looks like there will be six more weeks of winter according to Mr. Punxsutawney Phil. I never really liked that rodent, and now I remember why. Even though it has been a very mild Winter, I am still ready for it to be over.

Please add both your green and non-green giveaways and contests into Mr. Linky below so we can do some giveaway hopping! Be sure to include the expiration date. Thanks!

You can also submit your green giveaways to me during the week for me to feature on Fridays.

Crunchy Beach Mama
$30 to Chocolate.com 2/7
$5 to Starbucks 2/10
Rafflecopter's Giveaway for iPad & Kindle Fire 2/8

Family Focus Blog
Ozeri Green Earth Cookware 2/16
Swingline Shredder ($150 Value) 3/1

Just Another New Blog
$25 Gift Card to Barnes & Noble 2/3
Set of Natural Teeth Cleaners 2/13

My Sentiment ExactLee
$150 PayPal Cash 2/6

Penelope's Oasis
Xtrema 4 Quart Covered Ceramic Soup Pot 2/3

The Suburban Mom
Baby Bullet 2/7

Sauteed Chicken & Mushroom Penne

2012-02-02T10:22:00.000-05:00

When I am in the kitchen cooking, I make an absolute mess. Did you ever see that episode of Modern Family, when Cam destroys the kitchen making breakfast and then leaves for the day hoping that Mitchell will clean it up for him? Yeah, that's kind of like me. Fortunately 99% of the time, my husband does clean it up for me. So when I have a meal like this which is only two pots/pans it makes clean up so much easier. This started out as another great recipe of my mother's and I added the chicken to it to make it a complete meal.

Sautéed Chicken & Mushroom Penne

Ingredients
1 pound penne pasta
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 pint sliced baby bella mushrooms
1 pint sliced mushrooms
1 - 2 cloves fresh crushed garlic
extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste

Directions
1. Pound chicken until its about 1/4 inch thick and slice into bite size pieces.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions or to your desired texture.
3. Coat a large sauté pan with olive oil and warm over medium-low heat. Add crushed garlic and stir. If you want a lighter garlic flavor than just use 1 clove. If you like the garlic to be stronger, use more. I probably use 1.5 to 2 cloves.
4. Cook garlic for about a minute and then add chicken. Continue to stir to cook all sides.
5. Once chicken starts to whiten on all sides, add in mushrooms. I prefer to buy the pre-sliced, pre-washed mushrooms to make it easier on myself. I also add more olive oil now so that everything is coated.
6. Continue to cook over medium heat until chicken and mushrooms are fully cooked. Add salt to taste.
7. Drain pasta and return to pot. Pour chicken and mushroom mixture over pasta and mix together.
8. Serve with fresh grated cheese.

Battling the Post Baby Bulge

2012-02-01T20:08:00.000-05:00

At first the baby bump was cute. Everyone was excited and you couldn't wait to show it off. But now that your bundle of joy has arrived, the baby bump is frustrating and you have to hide it. Losing the excess baby weight after childbirth is a very common problem for many of us. But it can be done!

photo courtesy morgueFile

The pregnancy process is a bit counterproductive to a normal 'fit' lifestyle. Your body craves more food and physically, you are forced to slow down and take it easy as the due date approaches. This creates a natural slowing of your metabolism as well as an increase in fat deposits for most of us. After giving birth it is usually a hectic adjustment to the constant waking to feed along with recovery from the physical experience; which makes the idea of exercise daunting to say the least. However this is one thing you should do for yourself and your baby!

Focus Points

• Abdominal muscles
• Lower back
• Arms & Shoulders

Some strength training should always be done after giving birth. You need to focus on a regular workout for abs and the lower back to help combat strain to the body from weight gain and weight loss. In addition, a change in breast size due to feeding can cause lower back problems if the muscles aren't strengthened. Also the arms and shoulders are typical trouble spots that need to be worked on. Carrying around a newborn and all of that baby gear is hard work and strong arms and shoulders will help immensely.

Cardiovascular Work

• Yoga
• Walking/Running
• Aerobics

photo courtesy stock.xchng

Surprisingly after the first few weeks of childbirth is the best time to start exercising again. A basic schedule has been developed for napping and you will have some time to devote to regular exercise. Yoga is very popular because it typically includes calming meditation as well as strengthening into the workout program. You can easily pop in a DVD while the baby naps.

Walking and running are another good starting point because you can utilize nap times and a stroller to enjoy exercise as well as getting out of the house. Aerobics can be a bit much to jump right into but with the variety of exercise programs and DVDs, they are very easy to incorporate into a nap schedule.

Diet

Typically right after child birth is not the best time to start any sort of hard diet. Your body is in recovery mode and if you are breastfeeding then you do not want to limit nutrients. However portions can be reduced from what you were eating in the previous two months as that was eating for two. Additionally drinking lots of water and eating regular meals will go a very long ways to re-establishing a more normal metabolism. Many people after birth end up eating sporadically and in a very unhealthy manner due to time constraints of adjusting to life with a baby.

Losing that baby weight and getting back in shape with not only help you physically but also mentally. This can help battle postpartum depression, strengthen your body for the coming toddler years, and help alleviate stress. By taking some time to help yourself, you will also help your child and family by having more energy and a better mood.

This is a guest post by Keira Sullivan and has been brought to you buy AbdominalWorkouts.com.

Wordless Wednesday: I Love a Man in Uniform #StarWars3D

2012-02-01T06:37:00.001-05:00

My son and I had amazing time this weekend out in San Francisco for the Star Wars Episode 1: Phantom Menace in 3D press event. While I couldn't coax him into taking a picture with these members of the local 501st Legion, there was no way I was passing it up myself.

I have so much to share from our weekend now that I have recovered from my jet lag. Please check back for all of the details!

Green Giveaway Friday 1/27

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Is it Spring yet?

Please add both your green and non-green giveaways and contests into Mr. Linky below so we can do some giveaway hopping! Be sure to include the expiration date. Thanks!

You can also submit your green giveaways to me during the week for me to feature on Fridays.

Crunchy Beach Mama
Thirsties Duo Diaper 1/27
biodegradeable BecoPotty 1/30
$50 SpaFinder & C3 for Stress Drink ($40) 1/30
Kindle Fire & $20 Paypal ~ 2 Winners! 1/31
$50 Amazon 2/1

Family Focus Blog
Natural Dentist Mouth Rinse 1831

FreePlay Kids
3 Melissa & Doug Items 1/29

Just Another New Blog
$25 Gift Card to Barnes & Noble 2/3

Mommy Hast To Work
Mightynest Eco Gifts 2/2

What's In a Dog Name?

2012-01-26T08:49:00.001-05:00

Although our home is currently pet-free, my childhood was filled with many beloved animals. Growing up we always had multiple pets at any given time - a dog and a few cats. Regardless of what name you eventually choose for your pet, there is always a good story behind how the name came about. My family got their first dog when I was a newborn, so I reached out to my mom to learn more about how she decided on his name.

Fritz, circa 1992

When I was just three months old, my family moved from the Bronx up to Westchester County. Since the area was very secluded, my mom decided that she wanted to have a dog. She went to a breeder in the city looking to buy an Airedale puppy, but he did not have any. He did however have Miniature Schnauzer puppies. One of the male puppies came right over to her so she decided to bring him home. Being that the Schnauzer is a German breed, my mother knew that she wanted a German name and the name Fritz is the first one that she thought of. It was a name that she had heard on one of her favorite television shows, The Odd Couple. I will let her describe the scene from the show:

"It was from a funny scene with Oscar where he was talking about the names of the sports figures on his wall. He had some photos of them. The boxer's name was Fritzie Zivic. The name just stuck with me so when I got the Schnauzer it was what came to mind."

So it was then that Fritz, we also called him Fritzie, became a member of our family. My older brother was nine years old at the time and developed a very strong bond with the dog. I have very fond memories of Fritz dating back to my kindergarten days when he would wait for my bus at the end of the driveway and walk up to the house with me. Fritz was loving, playful and very protective of us kids. He was even known to hunt down the occasional birds, rabbits and snakes from time to time. He lived a great life and passed at the age of 13.

A few years after Fritz passed on, my mother decided to get another Miniature Schnauzer. This one would be a girl. I have mentioned before how I am a pretty big hockey fan. It was 1998 and Women's Ice Hockey made its debut at the Olympics. And if you don't know, the United States won the gold medal. The captain of that amazing team and there star player was Cammi Granato. Since we were all pumped up from the big win, we deiced to name this dog Cammi.

Cammi in the cat perch.

Cammi was a lot of fun. Since we were living in a townhouse now, she wasn't able to have free reign of the yard. So she spent a lot of her time inside hanging out with the cats. This resulted in her often acting like a cat. She would walk along the back of the couch, climb up onto the kitchen table and somehow even maneuver her way into the cat perch attached to the window. Cammi passed away just a few years ago.

Writing about my childhood dogs brings back a lotof happy memories and even a few tears as I write this. They each will forever hold a special place in my heart and I will always miss them. I enjoyed sharing the stories of how they got their names with you all.

How did you decide on your dog's name?

I am blogging about my dogs in partnership with DogFenceDiy, the invisible fence alternative. DogFenceDiy is sponsoring the "What's in a Name" Campaign as a reminder that no matter the name--they care about your pet's safety.

Wordless Wednesday: The Beautiful Sky

2012-01-24T21:11:00.000-05:00

I have been playing around with Instagram a lot lately and having some fun with it. Often times I bring my iPhone outside with me in the morning while we wait for the bus and I am able to get some neat shots of the sky to share on Instagram. These are a few of my favorites.

If you are on Instagram, I would love to follow you! Just leave me your username, mine is greenmamaspad.

It Pays To Get Organized

2012-01-24T11:52:00.002-05:00

I am not so great when it comes to being organized. To be honest, I flat out stink. Our home office can vouch for that as it is the scariest room in the house. I also like to call it the dumping grounds. Company is coming over? "Quick, throw all the junk from the kitchen island into the office!" Over time all of that junk builds up until you can barely walk into the room. It even starts to injure people when in an attempt to turn on your Wi-Fi network, your mother falls and nearly loses a limb.

There is no question that I want to clean and organize it, but I like to procrastinate. Which is kind of the reason I am even in this situation in the first place. However, I have a big trip coming up soon and I promised my husband that I would get it done before I left. So operation clean up the office has begun.

This is my office this past Sunday. It looks ridiculous right? Well, this is AFTER I spent a few hours for three days working on it. I wish I had taken a true before picture, it was frightening. Sadly, I have to admit that 99% of it is mine. Over to the left just out of the picture is my husband's desk which while not perfect, is in much better shape than mine.

But wait a second Marianna, you said it PAYS to get organized? Yes I did say that. While cleaning off my desk on Sunday and sifting through papers I came a cross a stack of gift cards: Victoria's Secret, New York & Co. and three for Kohl's. I called to get the balance for each one and it turns out I have $30 to spend at New York & Co and $134 for Kohl's! I could get myself an outfit or two for my upcoming trip! That is very exciting stuff. I never buy myself new clothes - as I type this I am wearing some pretty scruffy looking yoga pants.

So I still have a littl ways to go, but the office is already looking even better then it does in the picture above. Once I can get rid of all the junk and put everything in its place, it will be awesome to finally be able to work at my desk again. I haven't sat at my desk in like two years. I will for sure have to post an after photo.

What room in your house is in some desperate need of organization? Have you ever come across surprise finds like money or gift cards while cleaning up?

Can I Breastfeed If...?

2012-01-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

Over the past seven years, I have done my fair share of breastfeeding. During that time period I nursed four children and overcame several obstacles. My oldest son I nursed for 12 months, my twins for 21 months and my youngest for 23 months. While I certainly don't call myself an expert, I do have almost five collective years of breastfeeding experience that I can share with others. Breastfeeding isn't always easy, but one can work through most challenges with the right support and knowledge to help them.

Can I breastfeed if my child has food sensitivities?
It may not be easy, but yes you can continue to breastfeed if you can adjust your diet accordingly. When W was three months old, I noticed a small amount of blood in his stool. We were immediately in the pediatrician's office where he told us that my son had a cow's milk protein intolerance. This is not the same as an allergy. His digestive system could not break down that protein which then irritated his intestines causing colicky symptoms and the blood. Our pediatrician said to cut out all milk products from my diet. After doing that and waiting two weeks, things had not improved. I was then told to remove soy products from my diet as well and we were referred to a pediatric gastroenterologist (GI). The first GI we so was an awful jerk. He told me that I might as well just stop breastfeeding because there is no benefit to the child after 3 months old. Say what? Yes, a licensed doctor told me this. I left his office so confused and in tears. I was already supplementing with special formula since I was working full time and pumping wasn't giving me enough milk to send to daycare. I battled with the idea of just quitting all together. Then I went to see a second GI. She was amazing and these few words are what really helped me and gave me the strength to push through: "You are doing a great job mom. Keep doing what you are doing." And so I did. After a few weeks being soy free as well as dairy free, we saw an improvement. The blood stopped. The colic stopped.

Cutting things like dairy and soy from your diet is not as easy as saying no more cheese, milk or tofu. You really have to start reading labels and scrutinizing every ingredient. I found that so many processed foods contain some sort of milk derivative and even more of them contain some form of soy. On the positive side, it will drastically cut back on your consumption of processed foods, which is a very good thing. And as a double bonus, you will lose weight. I went down to what I weighed before I got married, which was a nice side effect. Whole foods will be your new best friends and you will be able to find some minimally processed foods to accompany them.

Pillow available at DoubleBlessings.com

Can I breastfeed twins?
Absolutely! When I found out I was having twins,many people just assumed I would need to formula feed. Being the internet junkie that I am, I did some research and learned that nursing twins or even higher order multiples, is very much possible. Some women choose to nurse their twins one at a time or simultaneously, only you can decided which works best for you. I also discovered that there is a nursing pillow made specifically for breastfeeding (and bottle feeding) twins. With this pillow I was able to nurse my twin boys at the same time. I preferred feeding them at the same time, otherwise I felt like was nursing all day long. I was very fortunate that I never had to supplement with formula and was able to breastfeed them up until they weaned at 21 months old. However, some women might not be able to exclusivity breastfeed twins so please know that it is more than OK to supplement. It can also give mom a much needed break from time to time.

Can I breastfeed if I have breast implants?
While I personally don't have experience with this, I know the question of nursing with implants comes up a lot so I wanted to go over it. Many women can breastfeed even with implants, but there is no guarantee. If you are considering implants but also hope to nurse a child someday, one important thing to discuss with your surgeon is placement of the incision. Many surgeons prefer to to go with an incision near the areola because it hides the scar well. However, this can damage the milk ducts, so it is best to discuss another location with your doctor. You will also want to go over the placement of the implants. Placing them under the pectoral muscle will reduce the pressure they put on the mammary glands. Some woman are also concerned that if an implant leaks it may contaminate their breast milk. The chances of an implant rupturing are slim. If you have a saline implant and rupture occurs it absorbed by the woman's body. Since the solution is just water and salt, it will not negatively affect your milk. It is important to note that woman who breastfeed with implants may be more prone to engorgement. I always found that if I was engorged, using warm compresses while massaging always worked well.

Can I breastfeed if I had a breast reduction?
Breastfeeding after a breast reduction surgery may be possible, but once again there are no guarantees. The main issue would be if any milk ducts or nerves were damaged or cut during surgery. There is always some milk ducts cut during this type of procedure. What will affect how much milk your baby can get is how many ducts were cut and if any of them have recanalized. If your surgeon is able to preserve the major nerves then you have a good chance of being able to breastfeed successfully. You will want to discuss this at length with the surgeon both before and after your surgery.

The most important thing to have while breastfeeding through any situation is a good support network. Surround yourself with family and friends who will only be positive and support your decision to breastfeed. Explain to them why breastfeeding is important to you and why you need them to be supportive of that. Often times when challenges arise, some people may encourage you to just stop breastfeeding and switch to formula. That is fine if that is what you want to do. But remember that the choice is YOURS not theirs.

If you have successfully breastfed through any of these challenges or other ones, I would love to hear from you! How were you able to work through it? Any tips or advice for new moms?

This post was brought to you by BreastImplants.org.

Green Giveaway Friday 1/20

2012-01-20T08:52:00.000-05:00

The Winter colrd has finally hit Connecticut, and I don't like it. I'm ready for Spring! What's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

Please add both your green and non-green giveaways and contests into Mr. Linky below so we can do some giveaway hopping! Be sure to include the expiration date. Thanks!

You can also submit your green giveaways to me during the week for me to feature on Fridays.

Crunchy Beach Mama
AppleCheeks MicroTerry Little Bundle Cloth Diaper 1/23
Bum Covered Diapers Bumble Training Pants 1/23
Carolina Cloth Lil B's Handmade Fitted 1/24
Sew Is Your Baby Handmade Pocket 1/25
Teeny Turtle bumGenius Freetime AIO 1/26
Thirsties Duo Diaper 1/27
biodegradeable BecoPotty 1/30
$50 SpaFinder & C3 for Stress Drink ($40) 1/30
Kindle Fire & $20 Paypal ~ 2 Winners! 1/31
$50 Amazon 2/1

Family Focus Blog
Endangered Animal Toy Set 1/26

Just Another New Blog
Organic Coconut Water Vinegar 1/23
$25 Gift Card to Barnes & Noble 2/3

The Mom Buzz
Fun Bites Sandwich Cutter 1/25

The Mom Reviews
$100 Amazon Gift Code 1/25

Family Fun at Killington Resort #Giveaway

2012-01-19T00:02:00.000-05:00

Well it took a little extra time, but true Winter weather seems to finally have hit New England. I admit that I am not a big fan of this season, I just don't like being cold. So I enjoyed the unusual warm weather while it lasted. But now it is time for fun, outdoor winter activities. Our boys are itching for a good snow fall so they can get bundled up and do some sleighing.

A lot of people around here and throughout New England head up to the ski resorts this time of year. Before my husband and I started dating, he went skiing a lot. Then the poor guy met me. At that point I had never been skiing and honestly had no desire too. Like I said, I don't like the cold. He did manage to get me to the Vermont slopes twice. Both times I took ski lessons and survived and even managed to do somewhat of a decent job. My favorite part was on the second trip which was to Killington in Vermont. After spending the day skiing, once the sun went down we went tubing. I never thought tubing could be so much fun!

Killington Resort is located in Vermont's Green Mountains and is known as "The Beast of the East." There are plenty activities for the entire family. In addition to great skiing areas, there are multiple terrains for snowboarders, dog sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling and the all-new Killington Tubing Park. There was not a tubing park way back when we went, that would have been awesome!

If you are a beginner like me, they offer lessons for both adults and kids. When its time to relax after a long day on the slopes, Killington has lodging to fit every budget. There is the luxurious Grand Hotel & Spa, cozy condominiums plus more than 100 properties throughout the Killington region. If you are planning to head to the Vermont ski areas this Winter, Killington is definitely a stop that you want to make.

Visit Killington
Head on over to Killington.com today to plan your winter getaway for your family.

Giveaway
One (1) lucky winner will receive a Family 4-Pack of tickets! Tickets are good for one day inside the Killington resort. They can be used any day before the season ends in April 2012. Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends January 26 at 12:01 AM EST.

I did not receive any form of compensation for this post. I just wanted to host a cool giveaway for my readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Internet Blackout: Stop SOPA and PIPA

2012-01-17T22:22:00.001-05:00

In lieu of Wordless Wednesday or any other posts for Wednesday, I will leave you today with only this post and infographics on SOPA / PIPA. I strongly suggest you take a few moments learn more about these bills and contact your senators and representatives to let them know they should NOT support these bills. For more information visit AmericanCensorship.org and StopSOPA.com.

$200 PayPal Cash #Giveaway!

2012-01-17T19:06:00.000-05:00

Everyone likes cash right? I know I sure do! That is why I am so excited about this giveaway. I have teamed up with 9 other awesome bloggers so we could bring you a $200 PayPal cash giveaway! I am so jealous because I would love to enter myself for a chance to win that money.

This is a quick giveaway that ends in 5 days so be sure to get your entries in right away. It is open to residents of the United States and Canada only. Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Good luck!

So what would you do with $200 if you won? I think I would either buy something nice for my hubby or put it away for our Disney vacation.

Contest open to residents of both US and Canada. Entrants must be 18+ to enter. Winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and contacted after contest ends. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize. Money will be sent to winner's PayPal account. Blogger's not responsible for fee's taken out of the winnings which may make the winning amount less than $200 but by how much depends on your Country.

a Rafflecopter giveaway