Jolly Mom: Recipes | Crafts | Atlanta Mom Blogger | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews

The NEW Hangout for Moms: Totsy's Mommy Lounge!

2012-02-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

If you are not yet a Totsy Facebook Fan, then go...run now and LIKE their page! Totsy just launched a Facebook app called the "Mommy Lounge", which is the new place to be for moms in the know! It's a place for you to hangout and have lots of FUN winning some pretty awesome swag! How about a a gift certificate worth $2500 to one spa deal or vacation through Spa Rah Rah? Um...if you win that one...please take me with you! Other cool prizes include a $250 Totsy Shopping Spree and an iPad 2. Told ya...Totsy's Mommy Lounge is the place to be!

Here's How Totsy's Mommy Lounge Works:

Fans are able to access the app via Facebook through the REWARDS tab
Once you allow permission, you will automatically receive 1,000 points
Fans are able to view all kinds of content
By interacting with the app (LOVE a piece of content, SHARE a piece of content, take polls/quizzes, etc) you will be able to acquire points
Points unlock levels, which gives you access to promotional codes (ie – free shipping) and enters you for a chance to win huge prizes (iPad 2, Totsy shopping spree and $2500 spa voucher)
The more you interact with the app, the high your chances of winning the ultimate prize.
Dont forget to refer friends to the Lounge from the Lounge to get even more points!

For more information or to sign up for your FREE Totsy account, visit Totsy.com.

I am a compensated member of the Totsy Mom Committee. Affiliate links are used in the above post. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Promote Your Giveaways: Giveaways Galore Link Up

2012-02-09T00:00:00.002-05:00

Link up your giveaways!

Please make sure to link directly to the giveaway and list the name of the giveaway along with the expiration date. Don't forget to stop by Go Graham Go to link up over there as well!

Fat-Free & Delicious Treat! How To Make Meringue Cookies (Recipe)

2012-02-07T00:00:00.004-05:00

I love baking cookies annnnd I love eating them even more. The scale, however, does not like the aftermath of an afternoon spent eating both the cookie dough and the baked cookies LOL. That's ok though because there's an alternative to all of that fat and calories...meringue cookies. They are fat free! But meringue cookies are not your typical fat free, tasteless fare. These delicate and light-as-air cookies are delicious! You can add all sorts of flavorings to the basic vanilla recipe. I love to add instant coffee granules and cocoa powder to mine (pictured below).

You can color them, sprinkle them...

serve them on a stick...

make them into any shape you'd like...hearts for Valentine's Day...

Meringue Cookies

Basic Recipe
3 egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Mocha Meringue Cookies
2 teaspoons instant coffee or espresso powder
1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. If you want to make shaped meringue cookies, then trace your design right onto the parchment paper and then place on the baking sheet design side down so that the ink or writing doesn't leach onto your cookies.

Before you start, make sure that your mixing bowl and beater is squeaky clean. Any fat on your kitchen equipment could ruin your meringue. It's also a good idea to have three bowls to use for separating the egg whites: a small one to crack the egg and let the egg white fall into, another for the yolks, and the third should be the mixing bowl. Once you determine that the egg white in the small bowl is free of any yolk then you transfer it to the mixing bowl. This way you ensure that there isn't a speck of yolk in the mixing bowl, which would also ruin the meringue. And, finally allow your egg whites to come to room temperature. They will whip up much better!

OK, let's get started! In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium until they are foamy (a few seconds)...

Add cream of tartar and mix on medium speed until the mixture forms soft peaks...

Turn the mixer to high speed and start adding the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time until all of the sugar is incorporated and the meringue is stiff and very glossy.

Add the vanilla extract and flavorings. Here's the Mocha Meringue...

Or, if you want to color, then add gel food coloring. Some flavorings can affect the color so it's best to stick with the standard vanilla or use other extracts (think peppermint, almond, etc) if you want to color.

Drop by spoonfuls or pipe onto the prepared baking sheet.

This is the point where you can add sprinkles or even a lollipop stick.

Bake in the preheated oven until the meringues are hard--about 2 hours. Turn off the oven, and allow them to sit inside the oven for a few hours or even overnight to finish drying out.

ENJOY!

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo Recipe

2012-02-06T00:00:00.002-05:00

It seems that at least two or three times per week this Fall and Winter, there's been a big ole' pot of soup or stew bubbling away on the stove. One of our favorites is a spin on chicken and sausage gumbo recipe that I got from Martha Stewart. It is so hearty and full of flavor--you just want to eat bowl after bowl! The good things is that it utilizes a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, which saves on time and makes this an easy dish to make even on a weeknight. I did tweak this recipe quite a bit by sauteing the sausage, adding twice the amount of chicken stock, replacing the okra with green beans, and a few other changes to the cooking process. The recipe below makes a huge batch--enough for two nights of dinners, which is perfect because this is definitely one of those soups that taste even better the second day. Adapted recipe provided below--hope you enjoy!

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 red bell pepper (ribs and seeds removed), chopped
1 green bell pepper (ribs and seeds removed), chopped
1 large white onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 lb. green beans, cut into 1 pieces
8 ounces smoked (precooked) andouille sausage, halved lengthwise and sliced 1 inch thick
1 rotisserie chicken (about 2 1/2 pounds), skin and bones removed, meat shredded (about 4 cups)
8 cups chicken stock

Directions

Prep your ingredients...

In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, saute the andouille sausage until some of the fat has rendered down and the sausage is golden brown. Remove from the pot and set aside.

Add the vegetables to pot and saute for about 5-6 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside with sausage.

Add the oil and heat over medium heat. Add flour, and cook, whisking constantly, until pale golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the vegetables and oregano; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Stir in the vegetables and oregano; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Add 8 cups chicken stock; stir in sausage and chicken. Bring to a boil and then turn heat down to low and allow to simmer until vegetables are tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; if needed. Serve with thick wedges of cornbread.

Promote Your Giveaways: Giveaways Galore Link Up

2012-02-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

Memphis The Musical is "Fantastical"!

2012-02-01T16:04:00.001-05:00

Last night, Mike and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary with dinner and we went to see Memphis The Musical. Here's what I have to say about Memphis...Wow! WOW! WoW!

About Memphis the Musical:

Turn up that dial…From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes a hot new Broadway musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love. Inspired by actual events, Memphis is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves — filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll.

Memphis was such an electrifying performance raw with emotion and hope. The dancing was amazing. The music and singing was beautiful. It had you laughing out loud one moment and in tears the next. Honestly, words do not do any justice to just how amazing this performance was. It is by far, my favorite musical to date! To borrow a word from Huey the DJ...Memphis is "fantastical"!

You can catch Memphis The Musical from Jan. 31st – Feb. 5th, 2012 at the fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta. For more information on the show and tickets please click here.

I was provided with a pair of complimentary media tickets to the show. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

The Perfect Gift for a Flower Girl: Flower Girl World

2012-01-31T00:03:00.001-05:00

If you know of anyone that is getting married soon or know of a future flower girl, then you have to let them know about Flower Girl World. This is an adorable collection of picture, activity, and chapter books that is solely dedicated to flower girls. The center of the collection revolves around the picture book, Camellia the Fabulous Flower Girl, which follows the story of Camellia and her journey as a flower girl in her aunt's wedding. This is a beautiful hardback book with glossy pages and cute illustrations. It's sure to be a hit among little girls ages 4 years and up!

About the Book:
Camellia Azalea Gardenia Bloom thinks she knows everything about being a flower girl. She can dance down the aisle, smile in a special way, and drop petals in a perfect path behind her. But Cami is in for a huge surprise – she’s not the only fabulous flower girl at her aunt’s wedding! Join Cami on her big day as she discovers a new world of friendship, and more flower girl fun that she could have ever imagined.

There is also a Celebration Kit available (pictured below), which is filled with lots of goodies and would make the perfect flower girl gift! Future flower girls can read about Camellia, practice being a flower girl with the enclosed flower petals and basket, and keep track of their journey in the included memory scrapbook.

The set includes:

Hardback picture book, Camellia the Fabulous Flower Girl
Chapter book, Rosie and the Wedding Day Rescue
Official Flower Girl World certificate
Practice petals
Mini felt basket
Glitter flower stickers
Wedding day activity book
Memory scrapbook
Crayons
6 collectible character bookmarks to share with friends

What a great way to get young girls ready and excited about being a flower girl. So cute! For additional information or to purchase, please visit FlowerGirlWorld.com.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Cabbage Soup Diet Results, Tips, & Recipes

2012-01-30T13:14:00.001-05:00

As you guys know, I did the Cabbage Soup Diet a couple of weeks ago and lost 5 pounds after the seven days. I was afraid that after getting off the diet; I would immediately gain the weight back. The good news is that I kept all of the weight off last week AND I lost another 2 pounds. I basically focused on keeping my calorie range between 1200-1500 per day and I ate mostly lean protein, veggies, and fruits. I did splurge on Friday night with pizza, but it was homemade pizza made with whole wheat flour and topped with veggies and cheese. What I loved and I completely attribute to being on the Cabbage Soup Diet the previous week is that I didn't really have any cravings and I was also able to stay away from nighttime snacking, which is always my undoing. I think the Cabbage Soup Diet helped me to "detox" so to speak. So, anyway--today I wanted to share some of the things that helped me get though the seven days of the Cabbage Soup Diet.

Cabbage Soup Diet Tips:

Make your soup the night before you are beginning the plan. Make a batch that's big enough to get you to the halfway point of the week (Day 3 or 4). Take your time making the soup (Cabbage Soup Recipe). When your first batch is finished, make the second batch a little different. Try using different spices, vegetables, or anything that will make the soup more palatable because at this point; you will be sick of the soup. One thing I did was to blend the soup. This really helped change the texture and felt like I was eating something a little different.

On Day 1 you can have cabbage soup and all the fruit you want except bananas. Make sure to have a good variety of fruits that you like on hand and ready to eat. Another thing is that you can spice it up by roasted or grilling fruits like peaches, nectarines, pineapple, etc.

On Day 2 you can have cabbage soup and all the low-calorie vegetables you want (except beans, peas, or corn) and a baked potato with butter for dinner. Get creative with your veggies. The same goes with Day 3, which is fruit and veggies day (no starchy vegetables or bananas allowed though). I made a huge stir fry and added a little low-sodium soy sauce.

Another idea--spaghetti squash topped with a homemade tomato sauce. Or, roast a variety of veggies for lunch or dinner.

I really liked Day 4, which is cabbage soup, up to eight bananas, and two glasses of skim milk. At night, I made myself a banana smoothie as a treat. I did cheat a little by adding a tablespoon of cocoa, but it only has 10 calories so I didn't think it was a big deal. The smoothie was really thick, which really made it the consistency of ice cream instead (even better!).

Banana Chocolate "Ice Cream" Recipe

Ingredients:

2 large frozen bananas, broken into pieces
1 cup skim milk
1-2 Tbsp cocoa
1-2 packets Stevia or zero calorie sweetener of your choice

Directions: Put all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth and the consistency of soft serve ice cream.

The key to this diet is to be creative or you will quickly become bored! Good luck!

Totsy Twitter Party Tomorrow! #totsyparty

2012-01-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Heads up! Totsy is having a Twitter party tomorrow (Friday 1/27) from 2-3pm EST hosted by the fabulous Sara Fisher (aka: @SelfMadeMom)! Party deets below....

Party Details:

When: Friday, January 27, 2012 from 2-3:00 PM ET
Where: Twitter hashtag #TotsyParty
Who to follow:
Hosts: @TotsyFan, @MyTotsy, @SelfMadeMom

Prizes:

Hevea Baby
Today's Baby Featuring Oggi and maybe Today's Mom
My Brest Friend
Baya
Generous giveaway by Hostess Sara Fisher of $300 of Totsy credits she's earned

No RSVP necessary--just join the party by Tweeting with the #TotsyParty hashtag!

For more information about Totsy or to sign up for your FREE Totsy account, visit Totsy.com.

Promote Your Giveaways: Giveaways Galore Link Up

2012-01-26T00:00:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T00:01:00.006-05:00

Save Energy and Money with Tide Coldwater (Review) #tide #washcold

2012-01-25T00:00:00.002-05:00

My mom taught me to wash my laundry in cold water whenever possible. Her reasoning is that cold water is gentler on your clothes than hot water. For instance, hot water has a tendency to shrink clothing, permanently set some stains, and cause colors to fade. I have listened to my mom's sage advice and as a result, our clothing lasts much longer. Another caveat of washing with cold water is that it is also more energy efficient than using hot water, which is better for the environment and your pocketbook. The only drawback? Washing with hot water does get laundry cleaner than cold water...until now.
Let me introduce you to Tide Coldwater...

Tide Coldwater is specially formulated to clean in cold water conditions better than the next leading regular liquid detergent in warm. And, with Tide Coldwater, you can save money on your energy bill. Tide claims that you can save up to 80% of energy in every load. That's quite a savings!
Thanks to the SheSpeaks Tide Coldwater Program, we've been using Tide Coldwater for the last couple of weeks. I have to say that it is a very effective detergent and does an excellent job of getting laundry clean with only using cold water. Check out the before and after results on a chocolate milk stain...

The stain is gone and the shirt smells lovely and feels soft! Two thumbs up from me!

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by SheSpeaks and Tide. I was also provided with a gift card as compensation. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Cabbage Soup Diet Review & Recipe

2012-01-24T06:00:00.004-05:00

If you've ever been on a diet, then you have probably heard of the Cabbage Soup Diet. It has literally been around for ages and still gets talked about today. I remember hearing about it for the first time when I was in high school. So what is the Cabbage Soup Diet? It is a 7 day diet that promises up to a 10 pound weight loss by the end of the week. It's a strict diet with a short list of allowable foods that change every day. What doesn't change is the cabbage soup, which you are encouraged to eat in copious amounts throughout the week. It is not a long term diet plan at all and should not be followed for more than 7 days at a time. It is intended to be used as a jump start to healthy eating.

Cabbage Soup 7-Day Plan
Day 1: Cabbage soup and all the fruit you want except bananas. Drink unsweetened tea, black coffee, unsweetened cranberry juice, or water.
Day 2: Cabbage soup, all the low-calorie vegetables you want (except beans, peas, or corn), and a baked potato with butter for dinner.
Day 3: Cabbage soup and a mixture of the above fruit and vegetables (except bananas and potatoes).
Day 4: Cabbage soup, up to eight bananas, and two glasses of skim milk.
Day 5: Cabbage soup, up to 20 ounces of beef, chicken or fish, up to six fresh tomatoes, and at least 6-8 glasses of water.
Day 6: Cabbage soup, up to 3 beef steaks, and unlimited vegetables.
Day 7: Cabbage soup, up to 2 cups of brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices, and unlimited non-starchy vegetables.

Over the years, I've tried the diet a couple of times and always gave up around day 3. However, after a holiday season spent eating way too many treats and a very sad end to the year, I have been feeling like I needed a detox and a jump start to my weight losss goals. I decided to once again try the Cabbage Soup Diet. I started last Monday and finished the plan this past Sunday.

My Results:
I lost 5 pounds, which for me--a very slow loser--is a huge amount to lose in one week. Granted, some of that is probably water weight, but that's ok because I was surely retaining a lot of unneeded water after over indulging over the holidays, etc. I'm just happy to see the number going down, which gives me the motivation that I need to continue on the right path.

The Good:
After the seven days, I feel much more in tune with my body and able to assess whether I am actually hungry or just bored. I was able to cut out late night snacking and eat smaller portions than what I was eating before beginning the diet. I feel much lighter and ready to start a long term healthy eating plan now.

The Bad:
It is definitely a boring diet--especially on the non-fruit days. By Day 4, I couldn't stomach anymore cabbage soup. It wasn't the taste, really. The soup is actually quite good. It was a combination of the smell of the soup, which is very sulfury due to the cabbage and also eating anything for that many days in a row is very difficult. I powered through though and had the soup all the days except Day 7.

Speaking of soup, there are many versions of the Cabbage Soup on the internet. All of the recipes that I read said to dump a bunch of vegetables into a pot and cover with water and some seasonings. However, as in any soup, I find that it really pays off to put a little love into it by sauteing the vegetables first to develop a better depth of flavor. So I tweaked the recipe to my own taste and it turned out really delicious--even Mike liked it. I made two batches--one at the beginning of the week that was broth based and a second version at the middle of the week that included canned tomatoes. Recipe is provided below.

Cabbage Soup Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 head cabbage, roughly chopped
2 large onions, chopped
2 green peppers
4 stalks celery
6-8 large carrots, sliced
1/2 pound green beans, sliced on diagonal
1 pound mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup fresh Italian parsley, roughly chopped
Quart of chicken stock (I use Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base to make my stock when I don't have homemade on hand.)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Cooking Spray
OPTIONAL: 16-28 ounces canned tomatoes, chopped

Directions: Spray a Dutch oven or large stock pot with a little cooking spray and saute the mushrooms until they are golden brown.

Remove the mushrooms and add the onions, green peppers, carrots, and celery. Saute for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are softened.

Add the cabbage, mushrooms, green beans, parsley, salt and pepper to the pot and cover with chicken stock. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn burner down to low and allow the soup to simmer for 20-30 minutes or until vegetables are just tender (not mushy).

For version 2 of the soup, add the canned tomatoes when you add the stock. Serve hot with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Tune in later this week for some Cabbage Soup Diet tips and tricks that helped me survive the week without completely losing my mind!

Handmade Valentine's Day Gifts: Homemade Marshmallow Recipe

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-05:00

If you've never had homemade marshmallows, you are truly missing out. They are nothing like the store bought ones. Homemade marshmallows are soft and fluffy and delicious. They are also surprisingly easy to make and make great gifts! Wrap them in clear cellophane bags and give them out to loved ones on Valentine's Day.

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Liquid or gel food coloring
Confectioners' sugar, sifted, for dusting the marshmallows

Directions:
1. Lightly spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper, making sure to leave an overhang on all sides.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup cold water; let stand for 10 minutes. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water. Place saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; boil rapidly for 1 minute. Remove from heat, and with the mixer on high, slowly pour the boiling syrup down the side of the mixer bowl into gelatin mixture. Add salt and continue mixing for 12 minutes.
3. Spread marshmallow mixture evenly into pan. Squeeze a few drops of food coloring into the pan and swirl around using a wooden skewer. You will have to work fast at this point and swirl the food coloring before the marshmallow sets. This will give you a "swirl" marshmallow. If you want to tint the entire marshmallow, then add the food coloring during step 2 after the mixture has been in the mixer for a few minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight.
4. Carefully remove marshmallow from pan. Remove all plastic wrap and/or parchment paper. Lightly dust the top of marshmallow slab with confectioner's sugar and cut marshmallows into 2-inch squares using a sharp knife. A pizza cutter also works very well. If you find that the knife is sticking to the marshmallow, you can spray it with non-stick cooking spray OR dust it with confectioner's sugar. After marshmallows are cut, lightly dust the entire marshmallow with confectioner's sugar to keep from sticking. Store in an airtight container.

Promote Your Giveaways: Giveaways Galore Link Up

2012-01-19T00:00:00.005-05:00

Fresh and Modern Update on the Beanbag Chair! Beanbag Boss Chairs Review

2012-01-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid, my favorite place to lounge was my beanbag chair. By kid, I really mean--from about 6 years old all the way to well...now. I mean, come on--everyone loves beanbag chairs! Toddlers, preschoolers, tweens, teens, and adults alike. They are comfy and just look cool! And, today's Boss beanbag chairs are even cooler. Just check out the beanbag chairs at Beanbag Boss...

The Boss Beanbag Chairs are rectangular and huge. However, they can be transformed into various shapes.

Check out the video below to see how it works...

See The Boss Beanbag Chairs In Action:

Beanbag Boss sent us a beanbag chair to try out and let me tell you...everyone that uses it...LOVE it! Lucas uses it every day in his play room. He loves relaxing in it and watching movies with his cousin...

It's even been used as a bed when his cousin slept over. It is so versatile and best of all...super comfortable!

These beanbag chairs would be a welcome addition in any child's bedroom, playroom, game room or anywhere really. I can even see one in the family room or even a home office. Plus, they come in every color of the rainbow--everything from the classy and elegant and to modern and funky patterns and fabrics. There are actually 117 different colors, prints, patterns, and fabrics. I'd say they have something for every one and every decor.

Bean Bag Chairs retail for $169.99 - $199.99 and shipping is FREE shipping to anywhere in North America! The Beanbag Boss Chairs are available online at www.beanbagboss.com.

Give Every Night New Flavor with a Quick Spicy Chicken Chili #KrogerRecipes #Giveaway

2012-01-18T12:31:00.001-05:00

Have you guys see these at your local Kroger??

These are free recipe cards provided by Kroger and ConAgra as part of their Give Every Night New Flavor campaign. Make sure to be on the lookout the next time you're grocery shopping. You can also see all of the recipes and print product coupons at GiveEveryNightNewFlavor.com. And, make sure to check out the Kroger Facebook page and the ConAgra Facebook page for even more news and updates! What I love is that all of the recipes are simple and quick to make, which is what every busy mom needs--especially during the weeknights. We tried the Rosemary Pot Roast last week and it was delicious. Today, I'm sharing the Spicy Chicken Chili recipe with you guys!

Ingredients you'll need...

Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces and slice the celery...

Spray a little Pam into a Dutch oven and add the chicken and celery. Cook for a few minutes until the chicken is no longer pink...

Add the beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatos, hot sauce, and any seasoinings you'd like to add...

Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes until chicken is tender. Serve and top with blue cheese crumbles...

Easy peasy, right?! While this obviously doesn't have the depth of flavor of a pot of chili that's been simmering on the stove all day--it does taste really good and it is a super quick meal to make. This is a perfect weeknight meal that is easy to throw together in a flash while still being warm and satisfying! We paired it with a salad and some French bread--YUM!

Spicy Chicken Chili

Ingredients
6 servings (1 cup each)
PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
1-1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
1-1/2 cups sliced celery
1 can (15 oz each) Rosarita® Premium Whole Black Beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz each) Hunt's® Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Garlic, undrained
1 can (8 oz each) Hunt's® Tomato Sauce
2 tablespoons red pepper sauce
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese

Directions
1. Spray large saucepan or Dutch oven with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add chicken and celery; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in beans, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce and pepper sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is tender and flavors are blended. Top each serving with blue cheese. Add more pepper sauce, if desired.

Nutrition Information
Serving Size: 6 servings (1 cup each)
Calories: 252

And, finally--as part of the "Give Every New Night Flavor" program, Kroger and ConAgra are generously giving away another fun prize pack filled with goodies!

Congratulations to the winner, Christina!

I was provided with compensation and complimentary products by Kroger and ConAgra. However, all opinions expressed in this post are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T00:00:00.001-05:00

Coca-Cola #ArcticHome #Giveaway

2012-01-17T00:00:00.002-05:00

As you guys may remember, Coca-Cola and their longstanding partner, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have joined forces for the "Arctic Home" initiative, which aims to raise awareness and money to protect the polar bear’s home. They have created an amazing Arctic Home website, which provides information and stats about polar bears. You can even track five live Mama Bears the WWF has tagged in the wild.

Coca-Cola has made a commitment to helping the WWF and polar bear habitat preservation by donating an initial $2 million and matching donations through March—up to $1 million. To have Coca-Cola match your donation, simply text the code on specially-marked Arctic Home packages to 357357. You can also make donations online at ArcticHome.com. Each donation accompanied by a code from specially-marked packages will not only be matched, but a designated parcel of the virtual Arctic Home refuge will be donated in your name on the site.

You can also find new red “Arctic Home” cans on store shelves. This new limited-edition can advances awareness of our efforts to protect the polar bear’s Arctic home.

To help spread the word about the Arctic Home initiative, Coca-Cola has a sweet giveaway for you guys!

WIN IT!

One Jolly Mom reader will win a Polar Bear Hat with attached paw mittens, Polar Bear Stuffed Animal, Polar Bear 3-D Puzzle, Polar Bear Shaped Pillow, Ice Cube Tray – Bear Shapes, Polar Bear Cookie Cutter, and Red Throw Blanket! (Pictured above)

How To Enter:

1. Visit the Arctic Home website and leave me a comment letting me know something that you learned.

Extra Entries (leave separate comments for each):

2. Blog about the giveaway and link to www.arctichome.com and www.jollymom.com and leave the link to your post in the comment.
3. Subscribe to Jolly Mom by reader or email or follow on Blogger or Google Friend Connect
4.One Extra Entry Per Day: Follow @CocaCola and @JollyMom on Twitter and Tweet about the giveaway. Make sure to leave your Tweet url in your comment.
5. Add the Jolly Mom button to your sidebar
6. Stumble this post (the post, not the site)
7. Jolly Mom Facebook followers receive an additional entry. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did and include your Facebook name.
8. List this giveaway on any giveaway site or share the giveaway, including the link, on your Facebook page. Leave me a comment letting me know that you did and include the link of the giveaway.

This giveaway will end on January 31st, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be drawn using random.org and will be announced on this post. US entries only, please.

The prize was provided by Coca-Cola, but Coca-Cola is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Coca-Cola. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Totsy Valentine's Day and Home Sales

2012-01-16T12:00:00.001-05:00

Hurry and head over to Totsy for some awesome Valentine's Day sales! They have everything from cute V-day socks to sexy lingerie. Check it out:

Olivia and Ava Valentine Accessories accessories/kids
Be My Valentine Socks accessories/kids
Pavilion Gift Company Layette
Halo Layette
Art from the Heart Room Decor
Valentine Keepsake Frames Room Decor
Grenier Lingerie Lingerie
Wear Your Intention Adult/Acc/Jewelry
Alegro Intimates Lingerie
Cuddly Buddies Toys
Be My Valentine Baby nb/inf apparel
Toddler Valentines Boutique Toddler Apparel
Girls Valentines Boutique Girls Apparel
Valentines Day Socks For Mom Women's Accessories

These sales end TONIGHT so you really do have to act QUICK!

Also, make sure to check Totsy for themed sales every Thursday this Winter. Starting this Thursday, Totsy will be having a Home theme with some fabulous items up for grabs...

Industrial Home Decor Essentials
Marseilles Collection
Clark & Wellington: Collapsable Vases
Nu Loom: Rugs
Fresh Word Market: Contemporary inspirational art
Lailas Picture Play: Kids art…interactive
Jessie Steele: sexy retro aprons, oven mitts dish towels
Mud Pie Entertaining Accents
Boston Warehouse: Kitchen Gadgets
The Jay Companies: Table top glassware
Betty Crocker Candles: Candles
Artland Table top: Tabletop
LED Accent Lamps
Pure Fiber: Luxury Bamboo bedding and bath towels

For more information or to sign up for your FREE Totsy account, visit Totsy.com.

Promote Your Giveaways: Giveaways Galore Link Up

2012-01-12T00:00:00.001-05:00

Give Every Night New Flavor: Rosemary Pot Roast (Recipe) #KrogerRecipes #Giveaway

2012-01-11T10:00:00.002-05:00

As a busy mom, I am always looking for quick, delicious recipes for my family. That's why I am very excited to be partipating in Kroger's "Give Every Night New Flavor" program, which is designed to help busy moms plan simple, affordable and yummy family meals. Basically, Kroger has set up a website with recipes and coupons. The recipes are all made using seven ingredients or less, take less than 30 minutes to prep, and use common ingredients you can find at your local Kroger. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be testing two of the recipes from the "Give Ever Night New Flavor" website: Rosemary Pot Roast and Spicy Chicken Chili. First up is the Rosemary Pot Roast, which as promised--is super easy to make and really tasty!

Ingredients you'll need...

All items that you can easily find at your grocery store and they are affordable and healthy to boot! Once you've gathered all of your ingredients, you'll want to do is cube the boneless beef chuck roast. Although the original recipe doesn't call for it, I did take a couple of additional minutes to brown the beef for extra flavor, but it's not necessary.

Cube the potatoes and cut the onions...

Put the veggies into the slowcooker...

Add the beef...

Top with the rest of the ingredients and cook on high for 5 hours...

And, then you get this...

YUM!!

It was warm and comforting and so easy to make. The roast was tender and full of flavor. Both Lucas and Mike raved about the meal--so good! The only change that I will make in the future is that I will reduce the dried rosemary from 2 Tsp to 1 Tsp because it was a tad overpowering for our taste. However, another caveat is that one serving of the Rosemary Pot Roast only has a little over 400 calories, which is a pretty low cal meal.

Next week, I'll be testing the Spicy Chicken Chili, which we are excited about because we are big chili fans and there's nothing better than a bowl of hot chili on a cold winter day, right?! In the meantime, be on the lookout for recipe cards and displays at your local Kroger, visit GiveEveryNightNewFlavor.com to check out all the recipes and print your ConAgra product coupons, and make sure to check out the Kroger Facebook page and the ConAgra Facebook page for even more news and updates!

Rosemary Pot Roast Recipe
Ingredients

PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

2 pounds boneless beef chuck roast

3 small baking potatoes, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces

1 large onion, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces

1 can (14.5 oz each) Hunt's® Diced Tomatoes with Rosemary & Oregano, undrained

1 can (10-3/4 oz each) condensed reduced fat and sodium cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons Hunt's® Tomato Paste

2 teaspoons dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. Spray inside of 4 to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray; set aside. Trim excess fat from beef; discard. Cut beef into 1-1/2-inch pieces; set aside.
2. Combine potatoes and onion in slow cooker. Top with beef and remaining ingredients. Cook on HIGH 5 hours or on LOW 10 hours or until beef is tender.
Serving Size: 6 servings (about 1-1/2 cups each)
Calories: 418

And, finally--as part of the "Give Every New Night Flavor" program, Kroger and ConAgra are generously giving away a fun prize pack filled with goodies!

This giveaway is closed. Congratulations to the winner, Aleksandra Nearing!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T00:00:00.005-05:00

Lucas and our chocolate lab, Aries at the beach. Nothing can keep them out of the water...not even freezing cold temps LOL.

Loss.

2012-01-10T16:06:00.001-05:00

You’ve probably noticed that things have been a little quiet over here at Jolly Mom. The truth is that 2011 ended on a very sad note for me. Right before Christmas, I found out that I was pregnant. Mike and I weren’t technically trying yet, but we’d stopped officially preventing that month. So while we were surprised—we weren’t completely shocked. We were elated.

Since we were just days away from Christmas, we decided to break the news to our families at my parents’ annual Christmas Eve party. It seemed like fate since 5 years earlier, we told our families about being pregnant with Lucas on Christmas Eve too. This time, it would be Lucas who would tell our families the good news. “I’m going to be a big brother!” My mom, who has been pestering me for the past year to hurry up and have another baby, was in disbelief. Her eyes filled up with tears. My dad, in-laws, brothers—everyone was so happy. Mike and I were so happy. I started brushing up on baby stuff again. I even bought a whole new maternity wardrobe. Not terribly smart, I know.

But it was not to be. The following Wednesday, I woke up and was spotting. My heart sunk. I knew that something was terribly wrong. No matter how many times I read that spotting is normal in some pregnancies, I knew. I went in to my OB/GYN on Friday and she told me not to panic yet. They did blood work and told me to come back on Monday to repeat the tests and they would compare the hormone levels to make sure they were rising appropriately. Unfortunately, that night spotting turned into a miscarriage. And, that’s how we spent New Year’s Eve weekend.

I’ll be honest; I never imagined that having a miscarriage at 5 weeks 5 days pregnant would affect me so much. But it did and still does. This baby was already loved—even if just for a short while. A loss is a loss.

I spent the next week in bed--recovering from the physical aspect of a miscarriage, but mostly trying to get through the emotional part. Thanks to my parents, we are now at the beach in Florida where we are spending time together as a family. Just being here at the beach with Mike and Lucas and our dog, Aries has done wonders for me. I'm feeling a lot better now.

I want to thank those of you who have expressed concern about where I’ve been these past couple of weeks. Those of you who started out as people I knew online, who are now some of my best friends in the whole world. Those of you who dropped flowers off at my house or sent me sweet emails. It means so much to me to know that I have so many people in my life who care and who notice when I’m not around. I love you guys!

Promote Your Giveaways: Giveaways Galore Link Up

2012-01-05T00:00:00.002-05:00