Parenting Resources and Lifestyle Tips by Latina Blogger

Land O'Lakes Deli Cheese, Soup and Sandwich Recipes, and Giveaway @LandOLakesKtchn

2012-05-23T19:08:00.000-04:00

Its already nearing the end of May which means that kids will be out of school soon and summer break is just around the corner. My teen son will be entering high school this upcoming school year (YIKES!) and my toddler twins will be going to another grade level in preschool. With 3 boys in the house for the summer and living in Florida, I certainly don't want to spend my entire summer cooking over a hot stove. Last year we partnered with Land O'Lakes to promote their new Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread, so we are happy to share their comprehensive recipe collection, including soup recipes, that can easily be paired with any sandwich.

The pairing of soup and sandwich is a quick summertime meal which can please even the most picky eater. Having a Cuban father, I was great to find a Cuban Inspired Pressed Cheese Sandwich recipe within the Land O'Lakes online recipes. With family in New York and Miami, where some of the best Cuban sandwiches are made in the States, this simple recipe makes it easy to create this Latin fused creation anywhere and any day of the week.

Ingredients
1 (1-pound) loaf French bread, ends trimmed, cut into 4 (5-inch) sections
4 tablespoons whole grain mustard
8 (3/4-ounce) slices Land O Lakes® Deli American Cheese
8 ounces sliced deli ham
8 pickle planks
3 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Butter, melted

Directions

Heat panini press. Cut each bread section horizontally, leaving 1 side attached.
- If you don’t have a panini press, heat skillet over medium heat. Place 1 or 2 sandwiches into skillet. Place another skillet on top of sandwiches to flatten them. Cook, turning once, until golden brown and cheese is melted (6 to 8 minutes). Repeat with remaining sandwiches.
To assemble each sandwich, open cut bread; spread bottom with 1 tablespoon mustard. Top with 1 cheese slice, 1/4 ham slices, 2 pickle planks and 1 cheese slice. Press top of cut bread down over filling. Brush outside of bread with about 2 teaspoons butter.
Place 2 sandwiches into press. Close press; cook until golden brown and cheese is melted (6 to 8 minutes). Repeat with remaining sandwiches.

Land O’Lakes uses only high quality ingredients to make a smooth, fresh-tasting, delicious cheese, every time you slice it. The melt-in-your-mouth creaminess makes grilled cheese, burgers, sandwiches, and snacks irresistible. Plus, it’s an excellent source of calcium and protein. Available in white or yellow, and in reduced fat 2% milk and 30% less sodium varieties, it’s sliced fresh at the deli just how you like it. It’s no wonder when people want the best in deli cheese, they ask for the hands-down favorite, LAND O LAKES® Deli Cheese. Visit www.landolakes.com to view the full deli cheese selection.

Want to make your own delicious sandwich to pair with your favorite soup? Land O' Lakes is offering a premium sandwich and cheese gift package giveaway.


Hamilton Beach® Panini Press, $25 VISA® gift card and free product coupon redeemable for any LAND O LAKES® Deli Cheese product.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looking for seasonal or summer recipes? See the seasonal recipe collections at http://www.landolakes.com/collection/Seasonal.

For more information about Land O'Lakes visit the website at www.landolakes.com

Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/LandOLakes

Twitter at

http://twitter.com/landolakesktchn

Disclosure: I received a premium gift package from Land O’Lakes, including a Panini Press, $25 VISA® gift card and full-value coupon redeemable for any LAND O LAKES® Deli Cheese product, for recipe development and review purposes. All opinions are personal.

Family Friendly Review with Kamy Moss - Jake And The Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns DVD

2012-05-16T13:25:00.001-04:00

My boys love watching Disney Junior. Whether before school, while gobbling down their cereal or on Sunday morning before church, this fantastic channel is part of our every day family life. With shows that entertain and educate, we often watch them together to share in the stories and laughter. One of our favorites is Jake and the Never Land Pirates. With Jake, Cubby and all their pals outwitting Captain Hook at every turn and showing us how to solve problems and help each other. Now this trendy Disney Junior show is a 2-disc combo pack, featuring an all new movie, 5 episodes of the series, a sing along, and interactive game where kids can follow clues to find Peter Pan’s shadow.

The full length adventure Jake and the Never Land Pirates: PeterPan Returns joins the new with the old by pairing the new pirate kids with those characters we remember from our childhood and I for one, love it! Peter Pan Returns brings the legendary hero back to Never Land to interact with Jake and the gang on an all new adventure. During Peter’s visit back to Never Land, his shadow “slips away” and is captured by the evil Captain Hook. Peter must turn to Jake and all his pals to save the day. Peter and the kids explore the magical world and try to outwit Hook, Smee and recapture Peter’s shadow. There are even moments in the movie where the viewers are called upon to answer questions and help out. My kids love the interactive parts of the movie and the series. If you have never had the opportunity to watch, check it out. The stories are entertaining and educational, teaching such things as counting, friendship, and memory skills.

The full DVD is 169 minutes of swash-buckling fun. With its bonus features, this DVD pack is a sure hit and a great addition for your family library, especially for kids under 8. Thanks to the wonderful people at Disney Video, one of Ryan and Liam’s favorites can now be seen any time they wish. With the DVD release of Jack and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns, the Disney Junior pirates are now a permanent member of our family DVD library.

The suggested retail price is $19.99 and more purchasing information can be found at http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/jake-and-the-never-land-pirates-peter-pan-returns.html

Print out the following color pages for your family!

Enjoy the Movie!

Disclaimer: As a contributor on Mami of Multiples, I received this DVD to review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are clearly my own.

#TransitionsLens Join Transitions Optical and Latina Mom Bloggers "Preparense para el Sol” Summer Safety Twitter Party with Us

2012-05-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

We are long-time consumers and fans of Transitions Optical lenses so we invite all to participate in tonight's Transitions Optical and Latina Mom Bloggers for the “Preparense para el Sol” Summer Safety Twitter Party. We'll be chatting about our summer plans, summer safety, and the importance of taking care of our eyes year round. It's going to be a really fun and informative party with lots of great prizes!

Transitions® lenses are the #1 recommended adaptive lenses worldwide and are an ideal choice for healthy sight. Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays – helping to protect the health and wellness of your eyes – so you can see better.

Transitions Optical understands that vision problems can affect anyone, but certain ethnics groups are more likely to develop eye- and overall-health issues that can take a serious toll on their vision and quality of life. Through its various web platforms and programs, Transitions Optical is helping to educate and motivate consumers nationwide, particularly in ethnics groups such as Hispanics, African American and Asian American, to visit an eye doctor regularly for comprehensive eye exams, helping with the early detection of vision conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy.

There are things you can do today to protect your sight for tomorrow. Transitions Optical supports the Hispanic community by providing bilingual tools and services to demonstrate its pledge, such as:

www.transitions.com
The Transitions Healthy Sight for Life Fund: http://www.healthysightforlife.org and http://visionsaludableparatodalavida.com
Bilingual children’s site: http://www.yonosabiaeso.com
Bilingual Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LentesTransitions
Bilingual “how to choose your eyewear resource: www.aprendasobreanteojos.com

Party Details
What: “Preparense para el Sol” Summer Safety Twitter Party

When: Wednesday, May 16, from 9 PM to 10:30 PM EST
Where: Twitter
Hashtag: #TransitionsLens

Who to Follow
Panelists: @NaturalmentMama @Cuponeando @JoscelynRC @elianatardio @UnknownMami
Moderators: @Eva_Smith @JollyMom @latinamomblogs @latinomarketing

Brand: @Transitions

Prizes

Two (2) pairs of Transitions Eyewear (frame and lenses valued up to $500 each)
One (1) $100 gift card
Two (2) $50 gift cards

Rules
For the official rules, please click HERE.

RSVP
To be eligible to win prizes, you must RSVP at Latina Mom Bloggers. Click HERE to RSVP.

See You Tonight at 9PM EST on Twitter!

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Transitions Optical.

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Mother's Day, Freebies, and Recipes

2012-05-12T11:54:00.002-04:00

Sunday, May 13, 2012 is Mother's Day in the United States and children (and adult children) are looking to find the perfect gift for Mom that expresses how much they love and appreciate everything Mom has done for them over the years. If you are looking for some last minute gifts or ideas for Mother's Day, check out the following suggestions below.

Suggestions from, Andrea Woroch, a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. She has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. You can follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips. Maisie Knowles is a working mother of two with three-year's experience writing on parenting and partner issues. She received a B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado and co-founded FreeShipping.org with her husband.

1. Magazine Subscription
There are magazines for every interest, from river rafting to cooking. Check out the tens of thousands of discount magazine subscriptions offered by Amazon.com and find something that will make Mom smile every month.

2. Online Gift Cards
Don't have time to run to the store, or perhaps Mom's favorite place to shop is online? Just about every major merchant offers online gift cards that you can have emailed to her within 24 hours, and sometimes instantly. Save by purchasing a discounted online gift card from GiftCardGranny.com, where you can find deals like 20-percent off a Dress Barn gift card.

3. A Phone Call
If Mom lives at a distance, a long phone call is one of the best gifts you can give. Set aside a chunk of time, think about the stuff going on in your life and questions you'd like to ask her, then dial away. If it's an option, make the call even more special by using Skype video chat or iPhone FaceTime.

4. Club Memberships
You can order special monthly club subscriptions for everything from fruit and wine to movies and massages. Check out SpaFinder.com to get her pampered or set her up with monthly DVDs from Netflix. Birchbox.com is great resource for discovering new beauty products with tips on how to use them.

5. Flowers
It's never too late to send flowers for Mother's Day. Search online for last-minute deals from merchants like FTD or 1-800-Flowers. Otherwise, call a few local florists to see what they can offer for under $30. If Mom's local, hit up your supermarket's floral department for a nice bouquet or find a garden plant for the mom with a green thumb.

6. Financial Advice
This one definitely falls within the "unique" category, but the gift of financial advice is invaluable for most people. This is especially true for anyone nearing retirement age, and the savvy ladies at LearnVest understand this. Through May 30, you can purchase a Core Financial plan for yourself and gift another plan to your mom for free. If you already have a plan, LearnVest will offer the Core Financial package for half off as a gift to Mom. Visit LearnVest.com for details.

7. Brunch
Mother's Day brunch deals abound in cities across the country. Call Mom's favorite restaurants to find the best specials. If reservations are booked up, consider preparing an at-home brunch. Present your mother with a menu of her preferred breakfast dishes like banana pancakes, veggie omelette or french toast. Don't forget to buy a bottle of inexpensive champagne and orange juice for a special toast.

8. Her Own Domain
This may not work if your mother's name is Mary Smith or Susan Jones, but otherwise you might just have a chance of securing an Internet domain in her own name. If you're handy with the computer, you might whip up a silly website focusing on something she loves. You can often purchase your desired url from GoDaddy.com for as little as $12.

9. Slideshow
Every mother loves to relive family moments and photos are sure to bring a smile to her face. Put together a slideshow of Mom's favorite pictures with captions that spark each memory and sit around the computer while you watch it together. If Mom is miles away, share the slideshow via email so she can access it on the computer or from her smartphone.

10. A Day Off
If you're single, married with no kids, or a full-time working husband, you may be blissfully unaware that being a mom is a 24/7 job. There are no such things as sick days and, even in the middle of the night, a mom is "on-call." We're summoned by our children regardless of time of day, or whether we're trying to use the toilet in peace. A 24-hour period where we're allowed to sleep in, recharge our batteries, and generally not have to be a mom would be absolute heaven!

What about Grandma? Grandmothers are ranging from 40 years + to the traditional set of grandmothers 60 years + and many are helping to raise their grandchildren along side their children.

Suggestions Kate Forgach is a Baby Boomer consumer specialist for Kinoli Inc. She has written about senior issues for 11 years as a Cooperative Extension specialist and for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines. She has been featured in USA Today, Detroit News, New Orleans Times-Picayune, New Yorker magazine, "ABC World News," NBC's "TODAY" show and many other media outlets.

1. House Cleaning Party
Grandmothers with physical limitations might greatly appreciate a thorough housecleaning. You needn't tackle this venture on your own, however. Put together a posse of those who willing to help out, equip them with the proper tools, and have at it. After all, misery loves company.

2. Old Fashioned Tea Party
Brits from the Victorian era had it right; A tea party is just the thing to cure what ails you. Besides, it makes everyone feel so ladylike that the conversational tone might just get lifted up a peg or two. Get creative with lacy invitations, ladyfingers and cucumber sandwiches. Ditch the coffee mugs, however, in favor of some fine china. If you don't have your own, check Google for a list of places that provide rentals or hit the dollar store for inexpensive teacups.

3. Shopping Spree
Giving money to your mother can feel so tacky, which is where gift cards come into play. Ask friends and family to toss a bit of cash into the pot, then pick up a Macy's gift card -- or another favorite retailer -- at a discount from sites like GiftCardGranny. You can save up to 10-percent off the face value and get more bang for everybody's buck. Then take her out for some good old fashioned retail therapy. My grandmother would have particularly loved this one as she was a hound for new makeup.

4. Record Her Memories
This is a present that will keep on giving for generations to come. Make a recording of Grandma detailing the family history and reminiscing about times past. Check out this article from CascadePatch for some guidelines, but remember one of the most important things is to just share the experience.

5. Organize a Party for Her Friends
Who says Mother's Day has to be spent just with family. Perhaps Grandma would appreciate someone organizing her friends for a gals' get-together...or perhaps just a gathering of family from all generations.

6. Technology Lessons
If your family is far flung, give Grandma a lesson or two in using Skype and other technology that will keep her up to date on everyone's lives. Of course, not all seniors have difficulties in this area but, at the very least, she may appreciate a good computer debugging.

Kohl's is having a Mother's Day sale at specials at Kohl's stores across the county. See the Mother's Day specials at http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/mothersday.jsp

From May 9th – 13th, all shoppers get $10 Kohl's Cash back for every $50 spent (in store or online), with no earn limit, that can be used toward futurepurchases in store or on Kohls.com – good on all brands and sale prices. It's like getting paid to shop!
Save 15%, 20% or 30% when you use your Kohl’s Charge.
Looking for additional ways to save? Visit us at Kohls.com and find us on Facebook and Twitter @Kohls to stay in the know.

Looking for some Mother's Day freebies to share with the special ladies in your life? Check out the following list of free deals for Mother's Day from MrFreeStuff.com.

1. Redbox Rental
Treat Mom to a free movie on Mother’s Day. Whether she prefers “Bridesmaids” or “Batman,” any one-day rental is free on Sunday. Just send a free Mother’s Day e-card through the Redbox Facebook page.

2. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
All Fleming’s locations will open early at 11:30 a.m. for brunch. Treat Mom and she’ll receive a $25 dining card towards a future visit.

3. IKEA
Get a free breakfast from opening until 11 a.m. on Sunday. There’s a limit of one per family.

4. Ruby Tuesday
Bring Mom in on Mother’s Day and she’ll receive a free voucher for a “Ruby Tuesday Simply Fresh Cookbook.” Reservations are recommended.

5. TCBY
Mom gets a free frozen yogurt of her choice on Mother’s Day. Call to make sure your local store is participating.

6. Mother’s Day Cards
Print out your choice of home-brewed cards.

7. Photo Card Templates
IHeartFaces has several templates you can use to create a personalized photo card for Mom.

8. Coloring Book Fun
Print out coloring pages and share the fun with Mom.

Need some recipe ideas to give Mom breakfast-in-bed or lunch or dinner at home? Try these healthy and tasty options.

Raspberry-Banana Yogurt Salad
Tropical Banana Nut Parfaits
Stuffed French Toast

Raspberry Chicken Salad
Edamame-Black Bean Salad
Lemon Meringue Pie Bowl

Honey-glazed Chicken Breasts
Stuffed Pasta Shells
Herbed Fish
Bulgur Pilaf with Pea Pods

Other Mother's Day recipes and desserts

Wishing all mothers, near and far, and my own BEAUTIFUL

WONDERFUL and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

¡Feliz Día de las Madres!

We are a JOHNSON'S Baby Cares Council Member and a Letter to My Son #WeCare

2012-05-07T23:14:00.001-04:00

Being a mother is one of the hardest jobs in the world and one of the most rewarding. For a long time, I was the mother of one boy. He and I grew to become very close (most people assume we are siblings rather than mother and son to this day) and he went everywhere with me. From business trips, where he often enjoyed playing at hotel/resorts with my parents while I worked as a young boy, to family vacations, he has never been too far away from me. He was a very well behaved and mild mannered child - he is often described by others as a sweet, sensitive, funny, and caring young man who is also a very old soul. Adults always tell me that my oldest son is one of the most respectful youth they have ever encountered and often feel a real ease when he is around.

When the twins were born in late 2007, I saw my sweet boy grow into his role of 'big brother'. It seemed like he became a 'man' overnight. He wore his 'I'm a Big Brother to Twins' T-Shirt to the delivery and truly took on the very meaning of the phrase. We often joke that he thinks he is more of their father then the twins' big brother - he loves them, plays with them, tries to correct their mistakes, and is fiercely over-protective of his baby brothers (even with us - their parents). The twins adore him and in his eyes his baby brothers are perfect.

I was recently selected to be a JOHNSON'S Baby Cares Council Member. The JOHNSON'S and JOHNSON'S Baby brand has always been a part of my childhood and now I am raising my children with their quality line of products. As a way to ensure every baby has a healthy and happy start in life, JOHNSON'S® Baby announced the launch of a new charitable platform, JOHNSON'S® BABY CARES.

The program will support the healthy development of moms and babies while also addressing the basic care needs of families during crisis situations in the form of educational initiatives, product donations and financial assistance. Beginning with a partnership with global children's humanitarian organization Save the Children, the JOHNSON'S® BABY CARES campaign kicks off by leveraging the support of actress and new mom Hilary Duff to assemble "Care Kits" that will be distributed to families in times of natural disasters. Consumers are encouraged to support the charitable platform by visiting the JOHNSON'S® BABY CARES tab on the JOHNSON'S® Baby Facebook page. “According to Save the Children, 90 percent of U.S. children live in areas at risk of natural disasters,” said Ivy Brown, Marketing Director, Baby Care, JOHNSON’S^® Baby and DESITIN^®. “In addition, families worldwide are also impacted by various global natural disasters where mothers and babies are deprived of their most basic needs. We are launching this charitable platform to provide these mothers and caregivers with essential basic resources and simple tools that will lend support in times of unexpected crisis.” To assist families, the makers of JOHNSON’S^® Baby products, alongside parent company Johnson & Johnson, are making a multi-year, multi-million dollar contribution to Save the Children that will help create and sustain key initiatives. Consumers can show their support of this campaign by purchasing any JOHNSON’S^® Baby product between April 15 and June 10, 2012 and redeeming a $0.50 cent coupon at retail stores, in which $0.25 cents will be donated to Save the Children. Throughout the rest of the year JOHNSON’S^® Baby will share additional ways consumers can get involved to help support Save the Children.

The majority of the duration of my pregnancy with the twins, my husband was on military deployment overseas. My oldest son now felt like he wanted to be in charge of taking care of me, his mother, and his unborn twin brothers. From the ultrasound where we found out we were pregnant with twins to him waiting for the birth of twin brothers in the delivery room, he was there every step of the way.

The following is a short letter of thanks to him.

To My Dearest and Eldest Son,
I want to thank you for being the wonderful son you have been throughout your 14 years of life. Your life has brought joy to so many around you and your entire family and has brought meaning to mine. You have been such a unique and special boy since the moment you were born. There is no one like you - your essence of faith, humor, kindness, caring, and love - is almost unheard of in someone your age. Your depth for understanding and appreciating matters of life that are beyond your physical years is something of wonder to all.

I am so proud of the teen and man you are becoming. For many years, you were the only child I was privileged to raise, and you had all my focus. The moment you became a big brother, you not only willingly now shared my love and attention with two other children but you also took on the role of being a true big brother. Your care and love for your baby brothers is evident by all and it fills my heart with joy and delight. You are inspiring to me everyday and I am blessed and humbled with the honor to be your mother. I am the woman I am today because I am your mother. I pray the Lord will continue to guide me in raising you to be a Godly man and that you will follow His plan for your life. I love you now and for all eternity.
Love,
Mommy

Find out more information on the JOHNSON'S Baby website and on their Facebook page.

Together We Can Make a Difference!

Disclosure: This post is written as a JOHNSON'S Baby Cares Council Member for the #WeCare campaign that is with Latina Bloggers Connect. All thoughts and opinions are clearly my own.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup Giveaway: Camera and Anytime Ready

2012-05-07T17:54:00.000-04:00

2012 has been quite busy and produced many new projects for Mami Innovative Media and Mami of Multiples. From appearing on WKMG-TV CBS News (with another segment about teens and video games airing this upcoming May 15th at 11 P.M.) to traveling for business, we have been exposed to many diverse situations and climates. Through all the changes and circumstances, one element has remained constant...Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup.

I have been using Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20 and Healthy Skin Makeup line on television appearances, press events, on boats and planes, and in hot and cold weather conditions in just the last few weeks alone. My top three things I enjoy about the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup line:

Natural Looking with Total Coverage - No matter what environment I am in - the bright television camera lights or humid weather boating in Miami - Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup is light-weight and evenly blends my skin. I have VERY sensitive skin on my face and I have combination skin so my T-zone can become mildly oily and the rest of my face can become dry. The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20 has, "an exclusive anti-oxidant complex (to combat the first signs of aging and visibly rejuvenate skin's complexion) that includes supercharged Vitamin E, also known as Gamma Tocopherol, wild chamomile, and total soy". The liquid makeup blends with my skincolor and is totally natural looking - no flaking or drying up or becoming more oily in the T-Zone area. Different shades from Classic Ivory to Tan are available to match anyone's skintone and color.
SPF Protection - Having to moved to Florida almost 2 years ago, SPF protection is very important to me, especially since I am now exposed to direct sunlight everyday. The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup SPF 20, "provides SPF 20 and broad spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection".
Affordability - As mothers and professional women, we don't want to sacrifice quality for cost, but we are cost minded individuals. We feel guilty if we spend too much money on ourselves and it affects our household budget. At a suggested retail price of $13.99 no one has to feel guilty about cost and are still purchasing a high-quality product.

Two other vital elements of the Neurtogena Healthy Skin Makeup line is Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm SPF 20 and Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector SPF 25.

The Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm is great go-to lip balm, especially for those on the go mornings and it easily fits inside of a purse or pocket. It helps make lips softer, rosier and healthier-looking, even after you take it off. The sheer tinted balm with exclusive ion2complex™ instantly moisturizes lips, leaving them looking fuller and more defined. SPF 20 helps protect lips and keeps them looking healthy. I have been using it with or without makeup and I really do love it! With shades from Sheer Shimmer to Fresh Plum and the affordable suggested retail price of $8.99 it can easily become a favorite balm too.

Unfortunately, I inherited slight dark circles under my eyes so since I could wear makeup I always wore concealer underneath my eyes. I have probably used every concealer on the market from inexpensive to costly so I was pleasantly surprised with the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector SPF 25. It is clinically proven to de-puff and treat dark under eye circles and formulated with optical eye brighteners. The easy to use flow-through brush delivers targeted coverage (instead of the messy putting concealer with your fingers method). In a recent clinical study - in as little as 7 days - 100% of subjects showed improvement in the appearance of under eye circles and 87% showed improvements in the appearance of under eye puffiness. An Active Protein Complex, comprised of peptides and proteins, helps to reduce the appearance of dark circles under time while also containing Tetrol-E, derived from amino acid, to de-puff the eye area. I really enjoy the on-the-go applicator and it covers my circles seamlessly. I have noticed a lightness in my otherwise dark eye circles. $13.99 is the suggested retail price and comes in various shades from Fair to Medium.

Thanks to Neutrogena, we are able to host a Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup Products Giveaway - a $50 value prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To learn more about Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup line visit
http://www.neutrogena.com/category/cosmetics/healthy+skin.do?nType=3

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Neutrogena

Here's to a more beautiful and healthy YOU!

Prepare Your Home with a Home Inventory Checklist and a $50 Best Buy Giftcard Giveaway

2012-05-02T00:02:00.002-04:00

No one ever wants to think about the worse situations or think about when disaster could strike. Though it can be a somewhat uncomfortable subject families need to be protected for all types of circumstances. Your home is basic necessity of life - its your shelter and where you store some of your most prized possessions. Would you know what to do if an unforeseen circumstance arose?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) website,

In 2011 alone, severe weather disasters across the country inflicted more than $43 billion in damage. But research suggests that more than half of consumers do not have an inventory of their possessions. Creating a simple home inventory helps you track what you own and what it is worth, making important insurance decisions easier. Whether you live in tornado alley, wildfire zones or along coastlines prone to flooding and hurricanes – now is the time to make sure you have properly insured your 'stuff.' An inventory is especially important for families who have amassed years of personal possessions.

Living in the Northeastern states of the U.S. for most of my life, I really didn't think too much about severe weather. However, now residing in Florida, natural disasters like hurricane and severe thunderstorms are considerations that has become part of my life. One of the best ways to make sure belongings are fully protected is to document them through a home inventory. A home inventory basically involves documenting the “stuff” in your home to ensure all your favorite things are covered in case of a severe storm or other emergency. While there are several options for forming an inventory, a free option is an iPhone or Android application called MyHOME Scr.APP.book. The app, from NAIC, lets you quickly photograph and capture images, descriptions, bar codes and serial numbers, and then stores them electronically for safekeeping. The app organizes information room by room and creates a back-up file for e-mail sharing.

Since about half of all Americans don’t have a home inventory, the following are simple steps to create a home inventory:

Group your possessions into logical categories, i.e., by hobby, by room in your home, etc.
Your list should include celebration purchases like jewelry and art, as well as everyday leisure items such as televisions and guitars.
Don't forget items you use rarely such as holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools, etc.
Pull together copies of original sales receipts and/or appraisal documents. Also note model and serial numbers.
Carefully photograph or videotape each item and document a brief description, including age, purchase price and estimated current value. Download a home inventory checklist (PDF).
Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place online, on your computer or in a fire-proof box or safe deposit box. Consider sharing a copy with friends, relatives and your insurance provider.
- iPhone® users — The NAIC’s free myHOME Scr.APP.book downloadable app lets you quickly photograph and capture descriptions of your possessions room by room, then store electronically for safekeeping.
- Android® users — With the myHOME Scr.APP.book home inventory app, you can quickly capture images, descriptions, and serial numbers of your possessions, then organize the information by room or by category. The app even creates a back-up file for email sharing.

A home inventory can be invaluable when deciding how much insurance coverage fits your life situation and makes sure you are adequately protected should you need to file a claim. Get more homeowners insurance tips.

Want to use your iPhone and Android to create a simple home inventory list?

There's an app for that! Download the following apps...

iPhones: http://itunes.apple.com/app/myhome-scr-app-book/id414273863?mt=8
Androids: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.naic.scrapbook&feature=search_result

Don't have an iPhone or Android?

Thanks to NAIC, enter to win a $50 Best Buy Giftcard which can be put towards the purchase of a smart phone or smart phone upgrade.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Looking for more home insurance information from NAIC?

Visit http://home.insureuonline.org

Hispanicize 2012: Bringing Brands, Latinos, Bloggers, and Social Media All Together #Hispz12 #ChevyHispz #ChevyOrlando

2012-04-24T14:09:00.001-04:00

Mami of Multiples and Mami Innovative Media had the great pleasure of being a conference advisory board member and speaker at Hispanicize 2011 so we were happy to once again being speaking at Hispanicize 2012 on a panel about 'Creating and Scaling up Your Blog'. We answered many questions from new and veteran bloggers on topics related to everything from monetizing blogs to working with brands.

A sample of the positive feedback we received on Twitter about the panel and session...

Great blogging lessons from @JollyMom, @Mcontemporanea & @JoscelynRC #Hispz12
— Cristina Arango (@colombianaenCA) April 11, 2012

#hispz12 so worth it! The gals of #B101 #Multi were awesome! @eva_smith @jollymom @Joscelynrc @mcontemporanea LUV U ALL
— Sofia Echev. Keck (@SofiaKeck) April 11, 2012

Blogging 101: Focus on your writing, don't concentrate on numbers. Valuabe info. #b101 #hispz12 # @jollymom @Mcontemporanea @JoscelynRC
— Estilo Familiar (@estilofamiliar) April 11, 2012

L to R: @Eva_Smith, @JollyMom, @JoscelynRC and @Mcontemporanea

Hispanicize was truly an event that key brands and influential bloggers and media came together under one roof. As a multi-cultural professional, one of the many aspects that I loved about Hispanicize was that it brought so many recognizable brands and companies that were wanting to engage with the Latino and multi-cultural market. The brands in attendance understood the value and importance of the Latino and multi-cultural consumer - there was no need to sell the Latino and multi-cultural market and community - the brands at Hispanicize already knew and wanted to connect.

You can see me speak about it on video as part of Divina from Dancing Hot Dogs Hispanicize recap below (I appear at the 2:57 mark):

Another valuable lesson was learning more in-depth about brands and companies and their history. We had the wonderful privilege of being sponsored by General Motors because of Chevy and GM in the Southeast along with Laura from Holdin' Out for a Hero and our co-host on Chicas Chatting, Jennifer from Mami 2 Mommy.

General Motors has a long history for promoting and supporting diversity that has withstood for many years and is evident by their talented team of executives. Alma L. Guajardo-Crossley joined GM in 1985 as a GM Engineering and Management Institute co-op student and is now the Director for Diversity Initiatives for GM. Among her many roles Ms. Crossley is working to position GM is a company of choice for its products and services among diverse communities. Part of the Diversity Division is Araba Dowell, Group Manager of Southeast Region Communications for GM and Jocelyn Allen, Director of Regional, Grassroots, and Diversity Communications for GM. It is so encouraging and inspiring to see such an established and well-known brand like General Motors have a corporate standard to really invest in the Latino and multi-cultural community. GM are constantly marketing and engaging with diverse communities - they are listening to their consumers and are always coming up with creative and out of the box methods to connect and meet their consumers needs.

Photo Courtesy of Holdin' Out for a Hero
Clockwise from left: Stephanie Camargo-Ruiz, Jennifer Hutcheson, Alma Guajardo-Crossley, Ashli Bobo, Carolina Rincon-Sato, Joscelyn Ramos-Campbell, Araba Dowell, and Laura Tellado Calderon

We had a very smooth and enjoyable ride from Orlando to Miami with the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco that was graciously provided by GM in the Southeast for the Hispanicize trip. Not only was it a fuel-efficient car (didn't need to fill up the gas tank while driving from Orlando to Miami) but it had many great features that were helpful to any busy parent or professional.

Some of my favorite features were...

On Star - Huge plus on a roadtrip. I used the On Star button and was connected to immediately to advisors who knew the exact location of the car and gave me real-time directions. Did you know that advisors can guide you to a location and you can record their verbal directions?
1. Push the telephone button. When OnStar responds with“OnStar ready,” say “Advisor playback.”
2. Your recorded information will play.
3. To pause the playback, push the button again.
4. To continue, push the button and say “Advisor playback.” OnStar will respond, “Please say play, or resume.”
5. Say “Resume” to continue playback from where you previously
stopped or say “Play”to start at the beginning.
USB - Loved the fact that I could plug my iPhone in the console area and could charge my battery and tha my music from the iPhone automatically started to play in the vehicle
Turn-by-Turn Color Navigation - Very user friendly and easy to understand
Rear Vision Camera System - An important feature when backing out of a driveway, especially with young children

Some helpful information learned at Hispanicize...
Key items to include in a pitch or proposal to brands as presented by McDonald's and VPE.

Background on you/your blog
- Key data to include: blog traffic, audience, profiles, social networks, analysis
Objective
- Should focus on a specific need to opportunity that your proposal will help address
Creative Concept
- Describe in a simple paragraph or two the idea you want to pitch
- Be strategic and bold; you’re selling your best creative thinking!
Execution
- Clear outline of the steps/activities needed to execute your idea
- Suggested timeline
- Resources or assets you recommend using
Outcome
- Expected results and how you’ll measure success
Cost Breakdown
- Fees and out-of-pocket expenses associated with the proposal

Ted Rubin's Return on Relationship presentationHispanicize Return on Relationship™ presentation. 4.12.12

View more PowerPoint from Ted Rubin

Having moved to the Orlando area in the last 2 years (and having vacationed in Central Florida most of my life), I was thrilled to see the Visit Orlando booth at Hispanicize! Check out their fun video below (I'am at the 54 second mark) and visit them online at http://www.visitorlando.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/visitorlando
Twitter at @VisitOrlando
#orlandosmiles

Being Latino interviews Hispanicize attendees (I appear at the end of the video) about their old technology and tells them about RadioShack's Trade & Save program http://RadioShackTradeAndSave.com

We were thrilled to get a copy of Culture Magazine which we were featured recently as their expert in their story about the 'The Rise of Hispanic Mompreneurs'. The magazine is owned by The Axis Agency, an award-winning Culture Movement Marketing Agency specializing in full-service marketing and communications targeting the U.S. Hispanic and African American markets. A big thank you to Stephanie Camargo Ruiz from the Axis Agency and GM for interviewing me for the story!

Lissette Rodriguez from the Axis Agency and @JoscelynRC

Follow the conversation on Twitter at #Hispz12 and

see the Hispanicize website at www.hispanicize.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/hispanicize

Twitter @Hispanicize

Looking forward to Hispanicize 2013!

Top Orlando Bloggers Cruze The City Beautiful With #ChevyOrlando

2012-04-16T20:56:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of GM in the Southeast, Mami of Multiples, (an entity of Mami Innovative Media), was pleased to host Cruze the City Beautiful #ChevyOrlando! We discovered Orlando, Florida (nicknamed "The City Beautiful") from the perspective of taking a day off from the theme parks and behind the wheel of a brand new Chevrolet, including the Chevy Volt, Malibu, Sonic and Cruze.

Top Orlando bloggers tweeted and took pictures as they cruised around town and blogged about visiting the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tours, eating lunch at the new Prato restaurant, making chocolates at Farris & Foster's, touring the beautiful Leu Gardens, and eating dinner at the new Fogo de Chao, an authentic Southern Brazilian steakhouse which recently opened in Orlando.

The #ChevyOrlando bloggers and media in attendance were:

Surviving a Teacher's Salary
Zannaland.com
My Mamihood
Twice the Love...Half the Sleep
Clumps of Mascara
Club De Las Diosas
Beauty by Cat
Disney Every Day
Coupon Mamacita
Galtime Orlando
Orlando Attractions Magazine

All the bloggers present had a wonderful time and learned a lot about the new Chevy vehicles and their great functionality for families and business professionals. The event was successful as #ChevyOrlando (the official hashtag used for Cruze the City Beautiful) became a trending topic on Twitter for Orlando the day of the event and had nearly 1 Million impressions!

For more information, check out GM in the Southeast post about the #ChevyOrlando Cruze the City Beautiful event at http://drivingthesoutheast.com/top-orlando-bloggers-cruze-the-city-beautiful-with-chevy/

Follow GM in the Southeast on Twitter and Facebook

THANK YOU to General Motors, Chevrolet, and GM in the Southeast for letting us host and making it all possible!

Christy Nockels 'Into the Glorious' Album #IntoTheGlorious: Reflections From a Mom

2012-04-16T10:36:00.000-04:00

I have had the pleasure of participating in Christy Nockels new album, Into the Glorious Blog Tour the last few weeks. The album title of Into the Glorious is quite poignant because her music is doing just that ...going back to the basic, eliminating outside distractions, and focusing our attention in the importance aspect of replenishing our bodies within the Word of God. (Read more about Christy and our review: HERE).

Listen to the short audio clip below as I discuss how meaningful Christy Nockels' new album, Into the Glorious, has been over my life and my time of reflection with the Lord.

To connect with Christy online, visit www.christynockels.com
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/intotheglorious?iqid=moms&?u1=moms
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/intotheglorious2
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christy-Nockels/45996475052?ref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/christynockels
Follow the conversation on Twitter by using hashtag: #IntoTheGlorious

Christy Nockels - Ever Lifting from sixstepsrecords on Vimeo.

Listen to the new album and spend time replenishing your soul.

Happy Listening!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as part of Christy Nockels: Into the Glorious Album Blog Tour in partnership with EMI Music and Momma Findings, however, the thoughts and opinions expressed here are clearly my own.

Mom Confessions with Kamy Moss: My world with WWE

2012-04-15T20:44:00.001-04:00

My boys are crazy about the WWE. It is almost embarrassing to admit that I let this happen or did I? I am not so sure. Is this just typical “boy” behavior? Is there a rule of thumb for what it means to be a boy? I have to say that I am still figuring this one out. For me, it all seems to now revolve around the WWE. Over the past year or so, they have acquired quite a collection of wrestling action figures and WWE toys. I admit I have purchased some of these toys myself, mostly because I love to see their faces light up when they get them. I am easily persuaded by my husband who says they are “just being boys”. But it is more than just toys; the WWE is all-consuming. Ryan and Liam know all their names, signature moves, and the television schedule by heart, often reminding us to set up the DVR for Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown. I am not a stranger to the pro wrestling phenomena. When I was younger, my dad and I loved wrestling. I can still remember my dad in his favorite Hulk Hogan t-shirt and all the VCR tapes we had of different Wrestlemania events. But at what point do I draw the line on this interest that now borders on obsession?

My boys are interested in a lot of things. They love school and going to church. Their bedroom is wall to wall Toy Story and they love their Buzz and Woody costumes. They have buckets of blocks and legos, stacks of books for reading and coloring. There is no shortage of toys and things for them to play with and learn from. And sports….they love sports. Baseball, football, soccer…whether playing or watching. They are all boy and have taken over our apartment, littering the floors with remnants of their pirate play clothes and race cars. So what, I wonder, is the difference with professional wrestling? Why do they act like girls at a Justin Bieber concert everytime they see anything that has to do with WWE? From t-shirts to dvd’s, they want it all. And for some time, we gave in to it. But now, mommy is going a little crazy!

In the beginning, I followed my husband’s lead, allowing them to go a little nuts over their favorite wrestlers. It has been funny watching them form allegiances to certain wrestlers, often emulating them in their walk and talk. Recently it moved up to learning their moves, trying them out on each other, and that is where the real problem lies. Despite our conversations with them regarding the reality of wrestling and all the safety and performance elements, they refuse to stop doing these moves on each other. My fear is that one, or both, of them will end up seriously injured. We all know pro wrestling is a show and that those men and women train to perform those moves with minimal injury. Training that my kids do not have and do not understand. So, as of now, Ryan and Liam are on a break from watching wrestling. I realize that many parents would never let their kids watch WWE, but we made a choice to let them watch it and to explain things to them the best we could. When you watch it on television, you can see all the young people in the audience, cheering and holding signs. For us, WWE is entertainment, a show…and we have told our boys this from the beginning. But somewhere along the way, my boys decided they were no longer little boys but that they are, in fact, wrestlers. What?!?!?!

I am a firm believer in make believe and imaginative play. So part of me feels awful discouraging them from “pretending” to be superstar wrestlers. But don’t we, as parents, have to draw a line? I want my boys to believe they can conquer anything and be whatever they dream of being. But I want them to be safe, and not get hurt doing John Cena’s “supermove” or “jumping off the top rope” like Randy Orton. Is that too much to ask? Am I crazy for worrying so much about my boys? My husband is onboard (thank goodness) with the “break” from watching televised WWE events for the time being. We hope that during this time, the boys will learn that their actions have consequences and they will broaden their interests. It is not that we want them to forget about wrestling, especially since we have invested way too much money in the toys and they love playing with them. What we do want is for them to be safe and to learn that not everything they see on television should be acted out.

This all leaves me wondering, do all boys become obsessed with something at this age? Since my two are so close in age, I don’t have the benefit of learning from the first. Most things they seem to go through together so for me there is a learning curve. I always hear the timeless phrase, “boys will be boys”. But what does that mean really? Does it mean that a bodyslam on the bed is normal boy behavior? Do all boys have to get dirty, flex their imaginary biceps, and fall off their skateboard just to prove they are “all boy”? Do all boys dig for worms, love to go fishing, and do cannonballs in the pool? Since I am a girl, I have no clue…but I am learning.

So far, I have learned a lot and I learned that I am not alone. My husband is a great help when it comes to boy stuff. I learned that kids will find something they love and go at it with all they have and it is up to us to guide them in their discovery. My boys will survive if I take away something that I don’t feel is appropriate. Play time can be active, even with a little rough-housing as long as everyone knows the rules and plays safe. Action figures and make-believe really matter to kids and that bumps and bruises are part of growing up. My boys love me and even if I don’t let them watch WWE.

As I write about this I find myself giggling and the absurdity of it all. It is absurd that Liam wants his hair cut like his favorite wrestler, The Miz, and now uses more hair gel than I do. It is absurd that Ryan wants to grow up to be a football player/actor/wrestler like The Rock. But is it? Now that I think about it, it is all a part of growing up. And the blessing in all this is that I am sharing in the learning, discovery and dreaming that my kids are doing. I am curious to see what will come next…and how long this “break” from watching wrestling will really last.

DuPont Teflon "Are You Cook Aware?" Roundtable at @IACPCulinary #IACPbeCookAware

2012-04-08T23:09:00.000-04:00

On April 1st we were graciously invited to be a participant at the IACP: The International Association of Culinary Professionals Expo & Conference roundtable sponsored by DuPont Teflon® Brand in New York City.

The "Are You Cook Aware?" roundtable featured national food and lifestyle celebrities, including Kelsey Nixon (host of the Cooking Channel series Kelsey’s Essentials), Lauren Braun Costello (host of AOL’s hit cooking series Pantry Challenge), Dr. Ro Brock (nutrition coach to the Dr. Oz Show), Janice Newell Bissex (co-Founder of MealMakeoverMoms.com), Kantha Shelke, PhD (editor-at-large for Penton Media's Functional Ingredients) and us from Mami of Multiples and Mami Innovative Media!

We were delighted to be part of such a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the latest trends in purchasing, preparing and eating food. U.S. consumers are cooking more often, experimenting with food and using time in their kitchen to help save money and eat healthier. These findings are among the results of the March 2012 DuPont™ Teflon® brand Be Cook Aware consumer survey, conducted to understand how the past year's trends have impacted America's cooking and eating behaviors at home.

For example, compared to this time last year, for example, approximately three-quarters of consumers (72 percent) indicated ways in which they have changed how they cook and eat in their home. More than one-third of consumers (37 percent) reported they are cooking more often, and more than one-fourth (26 percent) are experimenting more with food. Others (23 percent) are eating more natural or organic foods and 19 percent are eating more frozen foods.

Read more about the roundtable and findings by clicking this link: Is the U.S. Cook Aware? New Research Details Consumers' Changing Cooking, Eating and Food Purchasing Behaviors.

Learn more about Teflon by visiting their website at

http://www2.dupont.com/Teflon/en_US/index.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/teflonbrand

Twitter: http://twitter.com/teflonbrand

We are greatly appreciative to the DuPont Teflon Brand for inviting us and allowing our insights into American and Hispanic families to be reflected with such a talented panel!

Seeing Better with New Glasses from Transitions Lenses

2012-04-05T12:16:00.000-04:00

I can still remember my parents telling me as a young girl not to sit too close to the TV because it would damage my eyes or to eat more carrots so I could have better vision. I really do think their parental reminders did help so that despite genetics, I did not end up wearing glasses in my childhood, but in my mid to late teens. I am nearsighted so I can read and see things up close just fine but have trouble viewing objects with my naked eye that are in a distance. I really dislike having to take my glasses off when seeing items up close and then putting my glasses on again to see things far away so I usually keep my glasses on most of the time. I have worn and do have contacts though I do not always enjoy the uncomfortable dryness that can occur so I am most often wearing my glasses.

Since the mid-2000s, I started to incorporate Transitions Lenses into my eyeglasses choices. Transitions Lenses are the #1 recommended adaptive lenses worldwide.

"Transitions^®lenses are clear indoors and at night, and outdoors, continuously adapt with every variation of light so you can consistently see your best. Transitions lenses enhance your vision by providing more clarity and better contrast, and reducing glare, eye fatigue and strain – for more effortless sight. Transitions lenses block 100 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays."

In the same manner that I did not want to put my glasses on and off to see things close and far away, I did not want to always have to put on sunglasses when going outside. Transitions lenses are designed to be worn indoors and outdoors in the place of ordinary clear lenses.

- Clear indoors and at night
- Automatically adapt to changing light conditions and darkens outdoors
- Can be made in virtually any prescription
- Clear behind the windshield of a car

Though I love sunglasses I can now wear them when I desire and not just because I have to when I am outside. (This has proven to be very helpful since moving to the sunshine state of Florida and has helped save money on since I am not buying various sunglasses frequently).

Through a campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Transitions Optical, I was able to have an eye exam and learn more about overall eye health. I visited the Eye Specialists of Mid-Florida in Clermont, FL and was treated by Dr. Corkins. Upon arriving, I was greeted by a very friendly and helpful staff and saw that they had a vast eyeglass selection (even Latina superstar, Thalia, designed eyeglasses line).

During the eye exam, Dr. Corkins explained about the importance of getting eyes checked and that eye exams should occur annually or at least every 2 years. According to a study supported by the Transitions Optical this January, less than half of Hispanic adults living in the United States have had an eye exam within the past year. The eye exam was quite easy from reading letters on a lighted wall to simply indicating which lenses prescription I could see better from for each eye.

(The following images can be printed out as informational facts and a guide geared towards Hispanics to understand the value and importance of getting an eye exam regularly):

Hispanics are at a higher risk for many eye and overall health issues (i.e. diabetes) which can significantly impact vision. Its is of the utmost urgency, especially for Hispanic families, that eye exams occur regularly and proper eye health is taught at an early age.

Since I do now live in the Sunshine State, I choose Transitions XTRActive lenses to best compliment my lifestyle.

"Transitions XTRActive lenses are the darkest everyday adaptive lens, maintaining a comfortable hint of tint indoors (and even behind the windshield of a car) and reaching superior darkness outdoors in changing light conditions. They are ideal for prescription lens wearers who are sensitive to light and spend a great deal of their time outdoors. "

I was quite pleased with the easy eye exam, friendly and helpful staff - who helped me pick out a new eyeglass frame and commented how great they looked on me :) - and the vast selection of eyeglasses to chose from. It was an overall enjoyable experience.

For more information, visit www.transitions.com (ENGLISH) or

http://es-la.transitions.com/es/default.aspx (SPANISH)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/transitionslenses (ENGLISH)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LentesTransitions (SPANISH)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/transitions

We depend so much on our eyes for everything so take care of them and schedule your eye exam!

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Transitions Optical. I was provided with a complimentary eye exam and pair of eyeglasses to test for the purpose of this campaign. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Family Friendly Review with Kamy Moss: The Lion of Judah DVD

2012-04-04T13:36:00.001-04:00

Easter has always been my favorite holiday. Not only because the ever-popular Easter Bunny brought me oodles of yummy candy and new plush friends every year but because the true meaning and story of Easter holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, Easter Sunday service meant the retelling of the resurrection and God’s amazing promise of eternal life for all those who believe in Him. Just in time for Easter, Animated Family Films and Warner Brothers presents, The Lion of Judah, a contemporary take on this timeless tale, available on DVD and Blu-Ray. A movie for the whole family filled with unforgettable characters and music that celebrates Gods love for us.

The story follows the adventure of Judah, the spunky blue-eyed lamb, taken to Jerusalem for sacrifice at the annual Passover celebration and the comical cast of barnyard friends who set out to free him. Along their journey, the animals learn the meaning of sacrifice, friendship and hope. Set against a breath-taking animated backdrop, The Lion of Judah, touches your heart as the animals learn that Jesus has given them the ultimate gift by freeing them through love. With a cast of characters like Monty the fainting horse and Horace the break-dancing pig, each with its own lesson to share, this movie will make you laugh right along with your kids. Along their journey, the characters meet the “raven gang” who teach about cleanliness in the eyes of God and Jack, the abused and weary donkey colt who (in the end) is filled with hope after being freed by Jesus and feeling His love.

This touching movie is so detailed and realistic you almost forget you are watching a cartoon. It is truly a movie that can be appreciated by adults and children and open up discussions about unconditional love and the true meaning of Easter.

While it tackles a serious subject and is rated PG, The Lion of Judah does so with grace and understanding. Parents of very small children may want to either pre-screen the film or discuss the subject with their kids prior to watching. The moments in the film that focus on the crucifixion and resurrection brought tears to my eyes and reminded me how important it is to share this story with our children.

Featuring such voices as Ernest Borgnine, Sandi Patty and Scott Eastwood, and moving songs from vocalists Kari Jobe and Eddie James, The Lion of Judah, should get a permanent spot in your movie collection. Like many cherished holiday classics, the story of the Lamb that saved the world can be watched and shared year after year and generation after generation.

Parents can download The Lion of Judah Coloring Book by clicking: HERE and The Lion of Judah Bible Study Guide which can be found: HERE.

For more information, visit http://www.lionofjudahthemovie.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheLionOfJudah
Twitter: http://twitter.com/animatedKIDZ
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/animatedKIDZtv

From my family to yours, Happy Easter and enjoy the movie!

Replenishing your Soul and Christy Nockels new album "Into the Glorious"

2012-04-03T00:01:00.000-04:00

Are you tired?

Are you a mom, wife, (or husband or dad), daughter, son, employee, business owner, volunteer, chef, chauffeur, friend, mentor...basically a human being in today's fast paced society? If you are, you might be tired and often just simply exhausted by the on-going responsibilities and busyness of everyday life.

Why are you so tired?

I know with all the various hats and roles I have in my life, I often think of myself last. As a woman, mother, daughter, family member, and friend, I tend to put the needs of others around me before my own. When my children are not feeling well, I run to the doctor's office to have them thoroughly examine. When I am under the weather, I continue and push through the pain and try (most of the times unsuccessfully) to 'self-medicate' myself as to not inconvenience my family. As an entrepreneur and small business owner, I usually find myself working longer hours each week then I did many times in my decade of business travel and working in PR and HR for federal government agencies. I am responsible for my own deadlines now but I am a strict boss with myself and can be found putting in 'overtime' long after everyone else is resting. I can admit that I don't always take care of myself the way I should nor really should be doing in order to continue to keep up with the demands of my (and my family) schedule(s). With a difficult economic situation, tough job market, recurring layoffs, and strained budgets, it easy to understand why so many everywhere - regardless of race or creed - are stressed to the maximum.

How do you recharge and replenish?

Vacation, hobbies, massages, etc. can all be such wonderful forms of much needed relaxation but so can God's Word. When I was younger (and sans husband and children), I used to read my Bible and have my quiet devotional time with the Lord before I went to sleep each night. Now, when I try to read my Bible at night, I often fall asleep with it open on my chest or the pages stuck to my forehead. I have realized over the years that I am truly a morning person and not an night owl. (Naturally, being a morning person does not always coincide in favorably with my late nights working). However, for me there is something very special about the still and tranquility of the early morning. The quiet hush over a yet to be awoken household can allow me to really focus and begin my day with reaffirming the Lord's words and promises over my life, my family, and my business (including this site). Christian music, for me, is a powerful tool and necessary component to my faith. I love Gospel, Contemporary, Traditional Hymns and even Christian Salsa/Merengue (and believe me Christian Caribbean/Latino music does it exists and its great). In those early morning hours, I am looking for music to uplift and speak to me.

Today, April 3, 2012, is the album release date of Christy Nockels new album, Into the Glorious. One of the first things I noticed as I was previewing the album is Christy's clear and melodic voice. Her singing helped to bring clarity to my always running my mind and allowed me to focus so I could prepare myself for a dedicated time to be in the Lord's presence. The album title of Into the Glorious is quite poignant because her music is doing just that ...going back to the basic, eliminating outside distractions, and focusing our attention in the importance aspect of replenishing our bodies within the Word of God.

Christy Nockels - Into the Glorious from sixstepsrecords on Vimeo.

A little bio on Christy Nockels:

Christy Nockels was born in Ft. Worth, TX as a “seminary baby”. She grew up in Oklahoma as the daughter of a pastor and a piano teacher, which infused her heart early with a love for both music and God's word.

Christy met her husband Nathan in 1993 at the Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, CO. They married in 1995 and the two began serving as worship leaders in their local church in Oklahoma...a City, while Nathan finished college at Oklahoma Baptist University. It was during these early years that they began writing songs together in their tiny, one bedroom apartment. In 1996, the two made an album entitled “Holy Roar” under the name “Sons & Daughters” with fellow worship leader and friend, Charlie Hall. Louie Giglio, the founder of Passion Conferences, got a hold of this album and invited Christy, Nathan and Charlie to attend the very first Passion Conference in Austin, TX in 1997. Later that year, Christy and Nathan moved to Texas where they led worship for Metro Bible Study, a weekly gathering of 3000 young adults at Houston's First Baptist Church. It was there that they were "discovered" by the folks at Rocketown Records, a small label owned by Michael W. Smith. Eventually they signed a recording contract as “Watermark” and moved to Nashville, TN in 1998.

Together as Watermark, Christy and Nathan recorded five albums with Rocketown Records. They composed a journey full of songs, 7 of which were #1 radio singles. They have been nominated for numerous Dove Awards, including Christy's nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year, and their album A Grateful People was up for both Inspirational Album of the Year and Praise & Worship Album of the Year. After 5 albums, Christy and Nathan felt led to end their Watermark season to focus on other areas of ministry. This gave Christy more time at home with their children, and more availability to focus on leading worship and even teaching some for various women’s events. Christy and Nathan have continued to serve at Passion Conferences and in 2008, they moved to Atlanta, GA to be a founding family of Passion City Church. Christy will be releasing her first solo worship project with sixstepsrecords, produced by Nathan, in June of 2009. Christy’s heart through leading worship and song writing is to help people communicate intimately with the living God, and to leave a legacy of proclaiming Jesus’ fame to this generation. Christy’s most treasured legacy is her three children, Noah (8), Elliana (6) and Annie Rose (18 months).

Listen to the new album and spend time replenishing your soul.

Happy Listening!

Family Friday with Kamy Moss: Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort

2012-03-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

My husband, Stephen, and I have always tried to fill our boys’ lives with adventure. Whether it is a weekend trip to the beach or a week in Walt Disney World, we believe that vacations stimulate their imagination and enhance our family bond. Travel is such a part of who we are and no matter how hard things may be financially for us, it is essential that we take this time to be together. Our first family vacation was when Ryan was only 5 months old and since we have been blessed to make so many more vacation memories. I love the research and planning part of vacations often doing it for family and friends. Sometimes I will plan vacations that we don’t even take because I find so much joy in learning about things we can someday do together. I will plan a trip for the future, which is how this year’s Spring Break vacation came about…a trip we starting talking about taking more than 2 years ago.

Stephen and I visited Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, which is part of the Disney Vacation Club, for the first time in Spring of 2006. We immediately fell in love with the resort and vowed to return. That return trip finally came this year when we packed up the minivan and made the 6 hour drive North to the low country resort for Spring Break. Nestled in the middle of Hilton Head Island on Shelter Cove, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort is modeled after a turn of the century fishing lodge, complete with a wooden boardwalk, hammocks scattered among the oaks, and a fishing pier. Here you will find the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life…for us, the perfect escape from Orlando during a peak tourist time. There is no doubt that we will make this trip again and again and will recommend it to anyone who wants quality family time and outstanding recreational opportunities for adults and kids.

As you approach the resort, you cross over the beautiful bridge at Shelter Cove Marina onto Disney’s private island. The marina is lined with boats, on one side buildings house a variety of restaurants and shops, with the Disney resort on the other side. You are greeted with a “Welcome Home” and Bambi–themed topiary provides a great photo op. From the moment you arrive at the Live Oak Lodge, you feel relaxed and ready to surrender to the “do nothing” attitude. The Live Oak Lodge features the check in area, patio deck with picnic tables and a grill, and Big Murgie’s Den. In my opinion, the den is reminiscent of a grandpa’s family room, complete with a stone fireplace, oversized leather furniture, television, and a pool table. During cold weather months, this area is a great place to sit by the roaring fire to read or play games. The main building is also home to the resorts mascot, Shadow; a friendly golden retriever who greets guests and participates in activities around the resort. You will find Shadow and her companion, B’Lou Crabbe at the Live Oak Lodge around check in time, signing autographs and posing for photos. B’Lou, an energetic and informative man, treats families to stories, magic and more throughout your stay. (An activity schedule will be provided to you upon check-in) My boys loved meeting Shadow and were treated to chocolate chip cookies inside the den. Check in was a breeze and the kids were eager to move in to our villa.

The rooms at this resort, referred to as villas, range from a deluxe studio to 3 bedroom two-story grand villas. They provide ample space for families to stretch out, watch movies, play board games, and more. There are also rooms in the Live Oak Lodge, the only building with an elevator. (Please keep that in mind when making reservations if you require an accessible room- all other building require you climb stairs) The decor is deep greens, burgundy and browns, with all the modern conveniences. Our room on this vacation was a 2 bedroom villa near the pool, complete with a full kitchen, laundry area, and sleeping for 8. My husband and I love the master bedroom and bath, complete with an oversized Jacuzzi tub. Outside, each villa has a balcony with picnic table and rocking chairs. The boys loved eating breakfast outside each morning and mommy made sure to relax in the tub at the end of each day.

While exploring the grounds, you notice so many ways that Disney goes above and beyond to provide areas for families to gather and make memories. You can shoot hoops at the basketball court, ride bikes along the winding paths, and kayak on the calm waters of Broad Creek but one of our favorite things to do was spend time in the picnic areas. My in-laws drove down from Virginia to meet us for the week and we were able to utilize these areas each night for dinner. With a variety of grocery stores in close proximity to the resort, we were able to get everything we needed to throw together some great family dinners. We grilled out chicken, burgers and brats, bringing down coolers filled with drinks, salads and sides. Most nights we stayed out till dark sharing stories and playing games with the boys. There are a number of barbecue grill areas with tables and Adirondack chairs scattered around and are available to everyone. Some of these spots include horseshoe pits, bean bag toss games, a playground and hammocks.

Set in the middle of the resort, you will find a recreational area featuring Tide Me Over, the resorts snack bar, offering everything from breakfast sandwiches to burgers. And the main pool area with its star attraction, the Big Dipper Slide. Bigger kids love the slide, while the little ones can wade in the kiddie pool, complete with oversized cartoon frogs ready to squirt water without notice. There is also a hot tub and life jackets are provided. The pool is handicap accessible and offers graduated stair entry making it very family friendly. Many areas of the pool deck are shaded thanks to the overabundance of marvelous trees that grow throughout the resort. Since my boys love the pool, we spent many hours here. They made friends, utilized the slide and floated the days away. If swimming is not at the top of your list, there are many more recreational activities offered. Ryan and Liam loved the Low Country Craft Time, participating in making t-shirts using the art of Gyotaku, sand art, and painting sand dollars. The boys went fishing for the first time, learned how to play shuffleboard and rode their bikes around the resort. As a family, we played Goofy Bingo and attended a juggling class and magic show in Community Hall. One of our favorite activities takes place on select nights when the cast members lead a roaring campfire, complete with smores and a sing-along. There are so many choices you don’t need to venture far to find some fun.

You will definitely want to adventure away from the resort to visit Disney’s Beach House. The resort offers a free shuttle to take you the 2 miles to their private beach house featuring an arcade, snack bar, pool and recreational room. One of our favorite places, the beach house is the gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. We spent two days combing the beach for shells and splashing in the waves. Here we discovered live sand dollars and crabs, prompting the boys to want to learn more about the beach and life there. This calm stretch of beach is perfect during low tide, allowing you easy access to sandbars and pools of warm water. (The resort will provide you with tide times) We were extremely blessed with unusually warm temperatures for March and loved the family friendly beach. The pool at the Beach House was a great cooling off spot and offered pool volleyball for those who want a little sports with their swim. Just a short shuttle ride away, Disney’s Beach House is a must do.

This resort, while it features many signature Disney elements, does so in a subtle, charming way. With hidden Mickeys and a merchandise shop where you can find Disney souvenirs, you know that you are a part of the Disney family while vacationing here even though you won’t find characters posing for photographs. The service and quality is pure Disney. Everyone from the front desk to the recreation cast members were helpful, personable and went above and beyond to create magical moments for us. We were greeted each time we explored the resort and felt at home in the low country paradise surrounded by sprawling marsh. As a family, we experienced a new kind of vacation filled with exploration, play and relaxation.

We love the hustle and bustle of theme parks with their endless attractions and activities but this vacation at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort gave us just what we needed….time to do nothing and time to do everything…together. Many families, like ours, are so busy with school, work, and other obligations, that we forget to take the time to do the simple things. On this vacation we were able to relinquish all the worries and stress and breathe in the fresh air, sit quietly, and play with our kids. We are already planning to return…hope to see you there!

Learn more about Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort at

www.disneybeachresorts.com/hilton-head-resort

Head Island offers a wide array of recreational, shopping and dining opportunities if you decide to venture outside of the resort and the historic city of Savannah is a short 45-minute drive south.

For more information, visit www.hiltonheadisland.org

Find the Relief Your Family Needs with Robitussin

2012-03-26T21:04:00.000-04:00

Parents and families are busier than ever, especially during this time of year. The ending of Winter and beginning of Spring brings about many changes from sports to taxes. With all the busyness of the season, it is easy for immune systems to become low which can cause more susceptibility to illnesses, i.e. cold, flu, and virus infections.

When you are starting to feel under the weather, it’s important to stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet, and make sure your medicine cabinet is stocked to tackle a cold. As parents, especially mothers, we are experts in taking care of our loved ones and family members, but we don’t always do a good job in taking care of ourselves. Spending a comforting night indoors with a cup of hot liquid (tea or simply hot water with lemon) while reading a book or watching TV, and getting enough fluids and rest will help your body fight off an incoming cold.

If you feel a cough, cold or even the flu coming on, try an over-the-counter medicine such as Robitussin® Peak Cold Nighttime Multi-Symptom Cold for relief. When you’re on the go, find the right relief for your symptoms with the Robitussin® Relief Finder. The Robitussin Relief Finder is extremely helpful in identifying symptoms and determining appropriate relief for parents and children. It truly does eliminate having to stare at the medicine aisle wondering which medicine to take when you are already not feeling well. To help with savings, click here to get a coupon for $1 off a Robitussin® product.

Naturally with warmer weather, families tend to travel and be outdoors more often. As a wife, mother, and business owner, I have upcoming business and family travel scheduled. Traveling when you are sick, especially with a cold, is a very unpleasant and uncomfortable experience. I always travel with a purse-size container of alcohol-free hand sanitizer to help kill germs on a plane or outdoors. Having relocated to Florida from the Washington D.C. area a year and half ago, the hot climate was something my family had to get used to. The year-round sunshine can cause excessive dehydration and sweating. Having already experienced being and sick with a cold in warm weather, Robitussin® Long-Acting Cough Gels, are great to keep in the home, car, or even gym bag because they’re small, portable, and effective.

According to a U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services’ website, Flu.Gov, the following are ways to help prevent getting a cold or flu:

Everyone 6 months of age or older should get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available in your area.
Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people
Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
If you are sick with flu-like illness or cold-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

As your ally to combat symptoms and find relief,

visit http://www.robitussin.com/tools/robitussin-relief-finder and

click here to get a coupon for $1 off a Robitussin® product.

Stay Healthy!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Robitussin, however, opinions expressed here are clearly my own.

St. Patrick's Day Past #HormelFamily

2012-03-19T13:23:00.004-04:00

Growing up in New York, St. Patrick's Day was truly an event celebrated by all. Regardless of ethnic or cultural background, the entire city seemed to take part in all the fun festivities of the day. Attending religious private schools for most of my academic years, I often had the actual day of St. Patrick's Day off as a school/student holiday. I always wore green - socks, shirts, pants, undergarments, and even hair accessories. My parents would take me to New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade where I would be among the families, children, and festive revelers. I cheered, waved, and jumped with delight as I celebrated among Irish American and other cultures. For some years, my father would be part of the parade walking down the New York City streets as an executive with other union delegates representing New York and New Jersey. On a few special occasions I was able to walk with him and felt the pride and joy of being part of the parade. The day was usually complete by eating some authentic Irish cuisine at such places like Blarney Stone Bar & Restaurant.

My Caribbean born parents are terrific cooks and having careers that surround them with multi-cultural groups, they also learned how to make a variety of dishes. Around St. Patrick's Day, my mother would often make homemade Corned Beef and Cabbage.

(Check out these recipes at

http://www.food.com/recipe/n-y-c-corned-beef-and-cabbage-15846 and http://www.hormelfoodsrecipes.com/recipes/details/6029/sunshine-hash.aspx).

Want to try corned beef hash for breakfast? Try Hormel Mary Kitchen hash, which comes in corned beef, roast beef, and reduced fat corned beef hash varieties. It can be scrambled into eggs to mix in or wrapped in a breakfast burrito or in other variations which can be seen: here.

Fun "green" fact:

Did you know Hormel Foods acquired the company Wholly Guacamole?
Wholly Guacamole® comes in a variety of different flavors and will give you a spicy way to get your green in for the holiday! Check out the different products and varieties here: http://eatwholly.com/products/wholly-guacamole/classic.html.

Perfect for any celebration or quickie meal, try any of the Dinty Moore Hearty Meals Stews. As a wife and mother to all boys, I can attest this is hearty and filling. My boys put it over white rice or mashed potatoes.

How did your family celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year?

Hope you had a wonderful celebration!

Groundhog Day Remembered #HormelFamily

2012-03-19T11:33:00.001-04:00

I can still remember learning about the legendary Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day in school. I was always so amazed that a Groundhog (aka Punxsutawney Phil) could predicate if were going to have 6 more weeks of winter if he saw his shadow. Now my preschool twins are learning about Groundhog Day at their school and came home with some Groundhog crafts.

Some fun facts about Groundhogs and Punxsutawney Phil:

The average groundhog is 20 inches long and normally weighs from 12 to 15 pounds. Punxsutawney Phil weighs about 20 pounds and is 22 inches long.
Groundhogs are one of the few animals that really hibernate. Hibernation is not just a deep sleep. It is actually a deep coma, where the body temperature drops to a few degrees above freezing, the heart barely beats, the blood scarcely flows, and breathing nearly stops.
A groundhog's life span is normally 6 to 8 years. Phil receives a drink of a magical punch every summer during the annual Groundhog Picnic, which gives him 7 more years of life.

My family, especially my teen son and I, love the classic movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. This year was the 15th Anniversary of the film's release and we watched the movie again on Groundhog Day in its honor.

Since we were home celebrating Groundhog Day, we had a mini celebration using Hormel Foods products. We used the Hormel Party Tray for our somewhat picky preschool toddler twins. The party tray contains the perfect size for preschoolers to eat on their own with a variety snacks they like. To save time and try something new, we used the Hormel Always Tender Oven Ready Meats - . With its ready to use feature, I was able to create a pasta side dish, salad, and garlic bread while the chicken breasts cooked in the oven. The oven ready chicken breasts were quite moist and tasty and our Groundhog Day celebration was ready! :)

Did your family celebrate Groundhog Day?
Did your children learn about Groundhog Day?

Find more family-friendly recipes at http://www.hormel.com/recipes/default.aspx

Hope all had a wonderful Groundhog Day!

Universal Studios Orlando Mardi Gras Celebration 2012 #UORMardiGras

2012-03-17T12:39:00.000-04:00

Thinking of Mardi Gras in New Orleans conjures up thoughts from spicy Cajun food to lighted floats with colorful beads. Universal Studios is bringing back some of Mardi Gras fun with their Universal Orlando Resort’s Mardi Gras 2012 celebration.

Continue reading on Examiner.com at http://www.examiner.com/parenting-multiples-in-orlando/universal-studios-orlando-mardi-gras-2012-review#ixzz1pOP1B47b

Disclosure: We were invited as media to attend Universal Studios Orlando Mardi Gras Celebration 2012, however, all opinions expressed are clearly my own.

One More Disney Day Celebrated on Leap Day 2012

2012-03-17T11:21:00.001-04:00

On February 29, 2012 (Leap Day), Disney Parks celebrated “One More Disney Day,” a first-of-its-kind, bi-coastal event where the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort in California offered guests 24 straight hours of memory-making fun.

Continue reading on Examiner.com at http://www.examiner.com/parenting-multiples-in-orlando/one-more-disney-day-celebrated-on-leap-day-review

Disclosure: We were invited as media to attend One More Disney Day by Disney Parks, however, all opinions expressed are clearly our own.

Family Friday with Kamy Moss: EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

2012-03-16T00:18:00.000-04:00

The 19th annual EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is now underway. For me, this 75 day festival is a wonderful time to visit the park, attend some fantastic guest presentations, concerts, and to soak up the alluring fragrances of spring blooms. For kids, heading out for a day of flowers and gardening ideas may leave them begging to stay home. Yet, the imagineers at EPCOT have created an array of inviting, kid-friendly spots along the festival map. If you are thinking about visiting the park during the annual festival, pack up the kids, and share a day of imaginative play that reminds us why Disney is for everyone.

The following are 6 reasons why your kids will be laughing, learning, and loving their time at the festival:

In Future World, our first stop is Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden. Here you will find various themed areas, miniature fairy houses and topiaries, all dedicated to Tinkerbell and her fairy friends and to celebrate the Fall release of the new “Secret of the Wings”. The whimsical “Winter Woods” area is a sure hit featuring the pixie dust tree and a stunning array of all white flowers. Nestled toward the back of Pixie Hollow, you will find a play area designed for ages 2-5 created by Weevos. This play area features the Cozy Dome where kids can play inside and climb on the outside. Walk along the trail to do some crayon rubbing, visit the coloring station, and stop by Tink’s Nook where you can pick up stickers and seed packets to take home. This lush garden is a great place for kids and adults to discover and explore the world of Disney’s Fairies.

Across the way you can visit Bambi’s Butterfly House. This area has more than doubled in size since it began and is now easier for families with strollers. Inside the gazebo you are welcomed by topiaries of Bambi and friends. The vibrant gardens feature rock formations and waterfalls and are home to butterflies of all colors. Your kids will enjoy the hundreds of butterflies floating freely in this enclosed space and learn about the stages of life for these beautiful creatures. Cast members are available to offer insight and answer questions.

As you exit the butterfly house and walk along the Imagination! Walkway, you will find the “most awesome”, place to play according to my son Liam. The Let’sGet Moving play area is, by far, the most popular attraction for kids attending the festival. Featuring Playbooster Vibe and Evos play structures, this area is a place for kids to run, play, and explore. Designed for kids ages 5-12, there are places to climb, slide, and stretch. If you have toddlers, a Sensory Play Center for ages 2-5 is included. This area is sure to keep the kids busy while you lounge in one of the Adirondack chairs provided. The only trouble is getting them to leave!

Our next stop on the list takes us to World Showcase. If you are looking for a place to relax and get some great ideas, the Backyard Play Garden between Morocco and

France

is just the spot. Here you will find design ideas for backyard living and playing, as well as some great tips about ways to turn typical household items into garden planters and bird feeders. This is a great place for kids and grown-up!

As you approach the American Pavilion, kids cannot help but smile when they see the topiaries of our pals, Buzz Lightyear and Woody. The Toy Story Alphabet Garden is number 5 on our list and is sure to delight kids of all ages. Here you can have a Disney Photopass Photographer take your photo with Buzz and Woody and visit the garden where Lotso the Bear watches over. This colorful garden is a great place for learning too. Each alphabet block is filled with flowers and plants that begin with the corresponding letter.

Our favorite, letter C, features Chenille plant, Croton, and Canna Lily. It was fun for the kids to find the letters in their name and see what was growing in their block.

New this year is the colorful exhibit Haiti: Garden of Many Colors which you will find nestled between

Germany

and the Outpost. This vibrant display of art and culture shine in this illuminated night garden, a first at the EPCOT festival. Kids and adults can color their own Haitian “Tap Tap” and indulge in the food and culture of

Haiti

There are so many things to see and do during this year’s festival! You can pose for photos with your favorite Disney characters as they come to life in topiaries scattered throughout the park (don’t miss Mater and Lightning McQueen in Japan) and see Sand Sculpture Art of DisneyNature’s new movie Chimpanzee, set to release on Earth Day, April 20, 2012. My kids are looking forward to returning to the festival so they can see the presentation Kids Love Bugs (offered 3/26, 4/9, 4/16, 5/1 and 5/15 at 11am and 2pm at the Greenhouse Stage). If your kids are fans of the Disney Channel series, Shake it Up, they can see one of its stars, Brandon Johnson talk about designing Disney-themed backyards (April 13-15). Don’t forget the free concerts, offered every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

This list is just the beginning. What are you waiting for? Get there early, pick up a festival guide at the front of the park, and discover what the festival has to offer to you and your family from now until May 20th!

For more information visit http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival/.

Have Fun!

Heathcliff, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, and More Now Available on DVD with Discount Code on TVFlashbacks.com

2012-03-15T10:17:00.002-04:00

Growing up in the '80s, I can remember coming home from school or watching on a Saturday morning my favorite television cartoons. As a young girl, I loved to watch She-Ra, Jem, Rainbow Brite and I equally enjoyed watching Heathcliff, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, G.I. Joe, He-Man, Batman, and others. Now being the mother of a teen son and toddler twin boys, I am once again watching cartoons and television shows and this time around its with my own children. Many of today's animated features often discuss topics that are not suited for a young audience and are not really totally family-friendly. With the difficult economic situation, parents still need to provide entertainment for their children but can not afford to spend a lot. Mill Creek Entertainment has teamed with TVFlashbacks.com to provide a retro-resurgence of nostalgia and discovery with DVDs of hit shows from the '80s and '90s at affordable prices.

From Archie's Weird Mysteries and Heathcliff to Carmen Sandiego and Sherlock Holmes to Gadget Boy, Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors and more, each of these DVDs is jam-packed with multiple entertaining episodes (plus bonus episodes) are starting at just $7.99.

Some of the quality family entertainment from the '80s and '90s now available on DVD are the following:

Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego – The Complete Series
The world famous thief, Carmen Sandiego, plays an intricate game of cat and mouse with teen ACME detectives, Zack and Ivy. Based on the award-winning line of educational computer games, this energizing series is rich in both excitement and education as Carmen Sandiego attempts to steal the most valuable objects in the world.

Based on the top-selling Carmen Sandiego video game franchise
All 40 episodes of this Emmy award-winning edutainment series are available for the first time on DVD

Heathcliff - Volume One, Season 1
King of the '80s nostalgia explosion, Heathcliff is back, ruling the neighborhood with an iron paw and a sense of adventure. When Heathcliff is not grabbing fish from the market or teasing the neighborhood bulldog, Spike, he is full of love and good will for others, despite himself. Voiced by the legendary Mel Blanc, Heathcliff is just as you remember: fun, feisty and full of laughs and entertainment for the whole family.

Includes over 11 hours of crazy street cat antics.
Featuring the first 32 Episodes of the Saturday morning cartoon favorite.

The Best of C.O.P.S.
The members of C.O.P.S. are all extraordinary crime fighters -- each one a master of a special skill, each one dedicated to the cause of justice. The Big Boss and his gang are the roughest and most persistent bunch of criminals to challenge law and order in Empire City. The year: 2020. The place: Empire City. The situation: Brandon “Big Boss” Babel, along with his gang of crooks, is holding the entire city under the palm of his iron hand and the Empire City Police Department can do nothing to stop him. As a last resort, Mayor Davis sends in CyberCOP Baldwin P. Vess (Codename: Bulletproof) to take him down.

10 episodes from the TV series based on the popular toy line from Hasbro® C.O.P.S 'N' C.R.O.O.K.S.

Parents can visit http://www.tvflashbacks.com/animated-kids.html and use discount code TVFBKIDS25 to save 25% off all DVD prices!

As a special bonus from Mill Creek Entertainment and TVFlashbacks.com, we are hosting a giveaway of a set of 10 family-friendly DVDs from Mill Creek Entertainment and TVFlashbacks.com! One winner will be chosen at random from the submitted entries. An email address must be included with entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information, visit http://www.tvflashbacks.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TVFlashbacks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TVFlashbacks

Happy Family Time!

Pediped Footwear $100 Gift Certificate Giveaway

2012-03-14T12:38:00.000-04:00

Being a mother to three boys, including twins, can naturally bring about many expenses. In addition to the basic necessities of shelter, food, and clothing, footwear can be a costly expenditure. When my twins started their new preschool year last August, we bought a pair of sneakers and a pair of 'school shoes'. Within three months, the twins had outgrown their basically new shoes and went up a shoe size. Having moved to the sunshine state within the last 2 years from the D.C. area, I realized that my boys were really wearing out their shoes quickly. Warmer weather means more time outdoors to play and explore which also means the footwear is taking a harder beating. Trying to be budget conscious, I have been buying more shoes at discount retail stores but only find myself having to replace or buy new ones more frequently than ever before. Consequently, I was happy to learn more about Pediped Footwear and its award-winning and cost-saving footwear.

Twins singing at Christmas and wearing Pediped Flex

Pediped^® footwear was founded in 2004 by Angela and Brian Edgeworth in their quest for the perfect soft-soled shoe for their first daughter. Exceptional quality, unsurpassed comfort and distinctive styling have made the award winning company the fastest-growing children's footwear brand in the United States. Pediped footwear has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development, and preeminent orthopedic medical professionals, Dr. Mininder S. Kocher and Dr. Thomas W. Vorderer, deem Pediped shoes an excellent choice for parents/caregivers who want their children’s feet to develop naturally and healthily. In 2011 Earnshaw’s, the premier media resource serving the children’s market recognized pediped® with Earnshaw’s Earnie Awards for Company of the Year and Best Footwear. Pediped footwear is sold in over 3000 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with an offering of more than 120 designs for boys and girls between their three lines, Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. Originals® (soft-soled shoes for newborns to age 2), Grip ‘n’ Go™ (thin rubber-soled shoes for children ages 9 months to 3 years) and Flex® (rubber-soled shoes for children 1 to 8 years).

Pediped Footwear System

pediped® Originals®
First Steps: The best first shoe a child will ever wear!
pediped® Originals® are the perfect first shoe for infants and remain the best choice as children begin walking on their own. The sole was designed to closely mimic barefoot walking. It is soft and flexible and allows children to grip the floor when taking those early steps and developing their stride. The pediped® Originals® collection is available in sizes 0-24 months. Once a child is walking on their own, Originals® can remain on their feet. For those who feel they need a little more technology and support, we offer Next Steps: pediped® Grip ‘n’ Go™.

pediped® Grip ‘n’ Go
Next Steps: The perfect shoe to transition from early walking to confident walking!
Pediped® Grip ‘n’ Go™ are made with all the benefits of Originals® but with special G2 Technology™ for active toddlers. This technology consists of a specialized, soft rubber sole with rounded edges to mimic the natural shape of a child’s foot. The sole has a firm but flexible heel counter for stability and a soft toe box that allows toes to curl and grip the floor. Grip ‘n’ Go™ provides the freedom and flexibility matched only by Originals® but offers a bit more substantial shoe for the toddler on the go. The pediped® Grip ‘n’ Go™ Collection is available in sizes EU 19-23. Once a child is walking confidently, they are ready for Big Steps: pediped® Flex®.

Pediped® Flex
Big Steps: The ultimate shoe for confident walkers!
pediped® Flex® is the ideal shoe for walkers who have developed a solid, natural gait and are confident in their walking ability. They feature soft leather uppers, cushioned arch support and a soft rubber outsole which provides excellent flexibility as well was heel cushioning. Flex® shoes are available EU 20 up to size 31.
Memory Foam Technology™ in pediped® sandal and ballet flats and Dryz™ Technology in a sporty athletic line of pediped® footwear that can be machine washed, make pediped Flex® the most comfortable and durable shoes on the planet.

The pediped® Spring/Summer 2012 collection debuts with more than 75 new styles and color combinations across pediped® footwear's three signature lines: Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. Highlights of the collection include a new sole for the Originals® line and an expanded Adventure Line. Kids everywhere will be able to enjoy the outdoors in style with footwear featuring a trendsetting color palette of metallic, jewel tones and bright accent colors, and comfort with all shoes in the collection offering pediped’s signature comfortable fit. With styles ranging from water-safe shoes, gladiator sandals, athletic styles, boat shoes, Mary Janes and more, pediped’s expansive Spring Summer 2012 collection includes a shoe for every need and occasion! The new Spring/Summer 2012 will feature a new improved slip resistant leather sole for Pediped Originals.

Thanks to Flex Fit System shoes can be prolonged even when a child's foot size increases a half a size (and help to save parents money on frequently buying shoes). With the Flex Fit System, each pair of Pediped Flex closed-toe shoes comes with an additional 2 millimeter insole to customize the fit of the shoe so it is just right for each child. These insoles can reduce a shoe size by almost half a size. To use, simply lift the colored insole that comes inside the shoe and place the white additional insole underneath. Afterward, be sure to replace the original insole as this will be the layer next to your child’s foot. Check the fit: shoes should fit snug, but not tight. When there is no need for the extra white insole, simply take it out and use the original insole by itself. This insole should remain in the shoe at all times to ensure comfort for your child. Great feature for parents is that Pediped shoes are machine washable, and select shoes are water-safe, feature eco-friendly material, and non-slip sole.

More information on where to buy Pediped is located at http://www.pediped.com/StoreLocator.aspx.
Parents can sign up at www.pediped.com as a 'Pediped Insider' to be the first to know about special promotions, new product introductions and more.

Thanks to Pediped, Mami of Multiples is hosting a $100 Pediped Footwear Gift Certificate Giveaway! One winner will be chosen at random from the submitted entries. An email address must be included with entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more information about Pediped Footwear visit http://www.pediped.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pedipedfootwear
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/pedipedfootwear

Happy Shoes Shopping!

We are Hosting Cruze the City Beautiful #ChevyOrlando

2012-03-09T20:27:00.001-05:00

Mami of Multiples, an entity of Mami Innovative Media, is pleased to announce that we are hosting Cruze the City Beautiful #ChevyOrlando! With the collaborative efforts of GM in the Southeast, we will be discovering Orlando, Florida (nicknamed "The City Beautiful") from the perspective of taking a day off from the theme parks and behind the wheel of a brand new Chevrolet!

Selected bloggers will be tweeting and taking pictures as they cruise around town and blogging about visiting some of the most unique and fun venues in the Orlando area - aside from Mickey and Shamu!