Momma Findings | Houston Mom Blog

Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games: Should You Buy for Nintendo Wii or 3DS?

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:05:00 +0000

This year brings so many amazing events. We've got a Presidential election and the, much anticipated, 2012 Olympic Games in London. As a blogger, I day dream of attending the Olympics to bring all of you guys first hand scenes from the games, but alas, I sit back and realize that will never happen. So, I opted for the next best thing.... the video game version.

SEGA has released another outstanding game with our two favorite characters in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. We had the honor to try it out in December on our Wii System, but tomorrow (Feb. 14th), it will be released on Nintendo 3DS! For all of you with boys, tell me they haven't been talking about this game day and night? My son's have!

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February Beauty Pick: Simple Facial Care Products {Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:45:00 +0000

How did y'all like the January Beauty Pick of the Month? I'm LOVIN' the Orchid skincare products, but this month we're experimenting with some new facial care products from Simple.

We've got the "skinny" on Simple's moisturizing facial wash, cleansing facial wash, and replenishing moisturizer as they're our H-E-B February Beauty Pick. Along with our beauty pick, we've also decided to add in a mini-series we've entitled Organized Beauty Bliss! As a busy Mom, I don't have a lot of time to put my make-up on or apply a facial mask. My beauty routine needs to be fast and, therefore, needs to be organized. Over the next 10 months, I'll bring you 10 ways to organize your beauty products and on the last month? I'll unveil our ultimate beauty cabinet make-over! Cool stuff, huh?!

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Marriage Matters: Have You Ever Skipped Valentine's Day?

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:29:00 +0000

This year there will be no chocolates, no flowers, no fancy gifts exchanged between my husband and I. Before you jump to panic mode, we're not having problems in "Blogger Marital Bliss," but we have decided to skip the Holiday with each other this year.

He likes to say we're postponing it, but I'll say skip. Why would we do that? Why would we intentionally decide NOT to shower each other with extravagant gifts on the ONE day designed for it? Well, we received a very unexpected opportunity to visit New York City next month on our anniversary. All the basic expenses are covered like airfare, hotel, and food, but everything else is on us. So, we're going sans Valentine's Day in order to make our NYC trip THAT much better. In your marriage, have you ever decided to skip a Holiday?

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Pin of the Week: Green Monster Morning Smoothie

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:18:00 +0000

Source: singforyoursupperblog.com via Sara

Ah. It's Friday! You know what that means right? Other than looking forward to catching up on my rest tomorrow morning, it's also time for my Pin of the Week.

Every Friday, I'm not rounding up LOTS of pins I discovered. I'm simply picking ONE pin I've discovered, tried, and LOVED. I don't want to share recipes, crafts, and products with you unless I've first tried them. So, today it's a simple little treasure that I found from an old High School friend on Facebook. It's a great way to boost your calcium, vitamin A, and iron intake. Plus, if you're anything like me, you don't usually get your full recommended dose of fruits and veggies throughout the day. I'll admit, in all honesty, I get SO busy during the day that I forget to eat. This healthy morning smoothie has helped assure that I'm getting essential vitamins and staying healthy.

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Disney Giveaway: I Heart Minnie Prize Pack {$100 Value}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:28:00 +0000

Earlier this week I let you guys in on the NEW Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD that hit store shelves, I Heart Minnie. We had the chance to watch it and absolutely loved that this DVD isn't just for girls. It has the WHOLE Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang and perfect for young families to celebrate Valentine's Day and Birthdays alike. My little guy turned 5-yrs-old yesterday and it was really cool to watch the birthday episode with him.

Now that we've gotten through little man's birthday, we're gearing up for the big "Love Day," by making crafts, baking, and, of course, shopping for the ones we love. Whoo! I'm also really excited to offer you guys the chance to win a really cool I Heart Minnie prize pack valued at over $100!

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Kraft MilkBite Milk and Granola Bars: The Ultimate Blind Taste Test

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:08:00 +0000

We love granola bars in my house. They are great for quick, portable snacks. However, I won’t just buy any granola bars for my family. I make sure I read all the ingredients and choose the ones that will provide the most nutrition.

Kraft Foods recently sent me samples of their new, soon to be released MilkBite Milk & Granola Bars. They also sent me a $10 gift card so I could purchase my family’s favorite granola bars and do a blind taste test!

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So You Wanna Be a Blogger? 7 Tips from The Trenches

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:29:00 +0000

Guest post by Jennifer from Still Living the Dream in our three part series on How to Start a Mom Blog. She takes us through her journey as a blogger and brings you great tips straight from the trenches!

Let me start off by saying, I’m not a big player in the blogger world. I’m growing my blog slowly and while it may be taking me a bit longer to get to “the big show”, I’m working hard, having fun and I’ve participated in just enough campaigns and programs to be dangerous. Many people ask me what it’s like to be a blogger and how they can get started and I can completely understand why. The opportunity to participate in fun campaigns, try out new products, write about topics close to your heart and earn a living for your family...all while wearing your PJ’s in your home. What’s not to love?

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Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie is Perfect for Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:52:00 +0000

I'm a sucker for love. I've always been totally giddy on Valentine's Day. Call it all the pink and reds or call it the chocolate, this is the one Holiday where I don't need an excuse to shower my loves with all that cheesy stuff. You know what I'm talking about .... the cards, the stuffed bears, ALL of it.

Since becoming a Mom, 9 years ago, I've found that I get EXTRA cheesy with my little ones. One year I surprised them with a heart-shaped breakfast feast. Another year, they woke up to pink and red balloons on their ceiling. It's a day of love, not just for sweethearts, but for families as well. So, if you're looking for something to shower YOUR little one with, check out Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie, now on DVD today!

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10 Things to Teach Your Kids About Stranger Danger {Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:49:00 +0000

Welcome to Part 3 in our Stranger Safety series for families. This series was spawned from a very scary and very REAL experiment we participated in with Local 2 News Houston, entitled CRIME ALERT: Could Your Child Get Out Alive? which aired last night.

We wrote about our playground abduction test on Sunday stating how we felt before taking part in this experiment (by the way my husband did NOT want to do it). You can also see a video of how the KIDS felt after it was all said and done, but today? Today, my hope is that I can give you more than that. Using our favorite stranger safety teaching tool, the kids and I have come up with 10 Stranger Safety Tips all families should know. Oh and did I mention we've got a giveaway to help YOU teach your kids?

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Stranger Safety: The Tool That Saved My Daughter's Life {Part 2}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Welcome to Part 2 in our Stranger Safety Blog Series. Tomorrow, be on the lookout for 10 Stranger Safety Tips AND a cool giveaway of our favorite Stranger Safety DVD.

Yesterday, I wrote a very difficult post. I let you guys in on the Stranger Safety test we participated in with KPRC Channel 2 News. It was heartbreaking. It was eyeopening. More importantly, it was an experience that will be with us for a very long time. KPRC is airing this segment tonight in their all day event titled Crime Alert: Could Your Child Get Out Alive? Put through the test on whether or not she could be lured away by a stranger, my daughter passed. She remembered the stranger safety rules we've taught her over the years, but I'll be the first to admit, I didn't teach her alone. The one tool that essentially saved her life, had this been a real life situation, is a DVD called The Safe Side: Stranger Safety.

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How to Start a Mom Blog Under $100 in 5 Easy Steps {Part 2}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Welcome to Part Two in our three part series on How to Start a Mom Blog. Thank you to Lisa from Milehimama for taking the time to share her expertise and contribute to this series. Check out Part One7 Things to Remember When Starting a Mom Blog.

All right, you know what you're going to write about, you're family is on board with your new venture, and you've thought about how you'd like to make money. Now what?

You'll need an address (domain name) and hosting (a place to put all of your site data.) Then you'll need a site design, usually based on a prepackaged theme. The theme contains the codes that determine how big your headlines are, if you have sidebars and how many, etc. It's the "frame" that your design will hang on. Then you can customize your theme with the colors you want, add graphics and font styles, and so on to bring your site to life.

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Have You Done Enough to Protect Your Kids from Strangers?

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:59:00 +0000

My hands are shaking as I type this. My heart beats fast and goosebumps run down my arms and legs. In fact, I'm almost on the verge of tears because I'm about to broach a very, very, difficult subject among parents. I'm about to talk about an experience my family will never forget.

Recently, my family participated in an investigative report with KPRC Local 2 News on Stranger Safety. My family wasn't alone, as we also met Crystal, from Simply Being Mommy, with her family. We weren't prepared in the least. The only thing we were told was where to go, what time to be there, and how we'd focus on child safety. That made me nervous, but as a Houston Mom Blogger, I felt this could help other families, like mine, learn more about keeping their children safe. I had no idea, it would, completely, change our lives.

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Pin of the Week: Blueberry French Toast Bake

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:30:00 +0000

I actually had the nerve to ask my husband the other day, "Honey, how do you think Pinterest has affected us as a family?" Do you REALLY want to know his response? It wasn't THAT bad, but he stated, "We're eating more than chicken for dinner."

He's right. I've been really enjoying finding new and easy recipes for the family using Pinterst. This week, I'm sharing with you an easy breakfast recipe. If you love french toast, like I do, you'll see that this recipe takes out all the "elbow grease" in making it on the stove. I found this french toast bake recipe on Rach's Blog and with a few tweaks, I made it fit my family's taste buds.

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Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition in Stores Feb. 7th

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:46:00 +0000

Nothing makes me more giddy than to enjoy a classic movie with my children. The last year or so, I've enjoyed the movies I fell in love with as a child with my own children. Movies like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast have given us so many memories together.

It's definitely a joyous moment to see my preschooler watch these movies for the very first time. The release of these Disney classics has given me a different perspective on what a movie can do to my child's creativity and imagination. This month, we get to enjoy, yet another, Disney Classic with our little ones with the release of Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition. For the first time ever on Blu-ray. This heartwarming tale now charms a new generation of families and fans with its exquisite animation and unforgettable songs in one of the greatest love stories of all time.

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4 Steps to Dramatic Smoky Eyes with Cattiva Cosmetics

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Welcome to another month of beauty! Tomorrow we'll unveil the H-E-B Beauty Pick of the month (which is all about skin care by the way), but today I'm all about make-up, but more specifically creating smokey eyes.

As a Cattiva Cosmetics Ambassador, I've had the rare chance to experiment with lots of different color palette for my cheeks, lips, and, now, my eyes. Have you ever wanted to try the Smoky Eye look, but too scared to actually do it? I was always afraid that I wouldn't be able to get it right. Well, Cativva makes it REALLY easy with just one of their mineral eyeshadow quads.

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How to Start a Mom Blog: 7 Things to Remember {Part 1}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:12:00 +0000

This is the first part of our three part series on How to Start a Mom Blog. Thank you to Lisa from Milehimama for taking the time to share her expertise and contribute to this series, as it will help new bloggers and Moms, not only in the Houston area, but throughout the country.

Starting a mommy blog isn't difficult, but it does take some thought and planning. First, examine your motives. A blog is interactive. Do you have the time and temperament to foster a community and deal with negative comments? Do you just want to make money online? If you don't want to deal with readers, and/or pure profit is your motivation, a blog probably isn't the best choice. Start a niche website, instead.Remember: The heart and soul of blogging are your readers and your community.

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I'm Watching the Superbowl with the Coca-Cola Polar Bears

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:39:00 +0000

Sunday, Americans everywhere will be glued to their television for the Superbowl XLVI. Some will attend parties and grub on some delicious food. Others will plan a small gathering of family of friends to critique all the Superbowl commercials. That's the best part, right?

Although, my Houston Texans did not make it this year, I'll be watching with some REALLY cool guys.... The Coca-Cola Polar Bears. These are just SOME of the perks of being a Coca-Cola Arctic Home Mama Bear. The iconic animated Coca-Cola polar bears will be equipped with a TV, computer, smart phone and tablet device. That's my kind of bear!

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10 Ways to Encourage Your Children to Write

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:22:00 +0000

I never realized, at this age, my daughter would know exactly what she wants to be when she grows up. In fact, when I was 8-yrs-old, I had no idea. The same ole' answer, every kid uses, blurted out of my mouth, "A doctor! A lawyer! A nurse!" The fact is, I just loved being a kid and, thoroughly, enjoyed my carefree life.

My daughter, however, enjoys her childhood a little different than I did, lost in a book or in her writing journal. She wants to be a writer, "Mom, I haven't decided if I want to be a novelist, a screenwriter, or journalist." Her options are, definitely, open, but what do you do when your child shows so much potential and passion for one particular profession so early in life? How can you, as a parent, encourage her creativity and nurture her talent without her burning out? I thought about those questions, long and hard.

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Local Findings: World Class Amusement Park Coming to Galveston Island

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:03:00 +0000

So, there I am sitting at my parent's house today when, on the television, comes the announcement that would completely change the beach front of Galveston, TX. I live about an hour away from Galveston Island and, when I was a kid, we used to go there ALL the time. Heck. Even early in our marriage, we'd head that way for Mardi Gras on The Strand, but something happened to the, once beloved, island.

We stopped visiting. We stopped talking about it. We just stopped enjoying "our beach." Hurricanes from the past have done a number on Galveston's infrastructure and I used to wonder if we'd ever make memories there again.Well, today I got my answer. Galveston Island is now in the planning stages with Landry's to transform Pleasure Pier into a world class amusement park. Slated to pen at the end of May, it's being compared to popular destinations like Santa Monica Pier and Navy Pier. I, for one, am SO EXCITED!

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I'm An Official Verizon Wireless Ambassador! #VZWA

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:18:00 +0000

Here's a fun fact about me: I was a Verizon Palm Pre Plus Mom Blogger back in the Spring of 2010. This was WAY before I got my first iPhone and before I switched to AT&T. I made the "big switch" because I just couldn't wait any longer to have an iPhone and be one of the "cool kids." Verizon just didn't carry them at the time and my impatience got the best of me.

In case you didn't know, I'm completely addicted to my iPhone4. It keeps me organized, serves as my alarm clocks, GPS, diet manager, music player, and so on and so forth. I, seriously, can't live without it, but one thing remained from my Palm Pre Plus days..... my love for Verizon Wireless. The salespeople were always so helpful and I never had a problem with reception. So, today, I'm here to announce that I'm an official Verizon Wireless Ambassador!

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4 Easy Ways to Switch to Whole Grain Foods {Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Some of you guys might roll your eyes at this post, but I have seriously been changing my eating habits. I've found that by giving up soda and controlling my portion sizes has made a HUGE impact on my waistline. I also feel SO much better throughout the day.

These eating habits have also made an impact on my children. Instead of reaching for sugary soda and greasy potato chips (which I always kept around), they want yogurt with granola, or fruit kabobs, and even a nice bowl of whole grain cereal. As a Mom, I've found it hard to distinguish which cereal is healthy and which is not, but thanks to the white check on General Mills cereal boxes I can rest assured it has more whole grain than any other single ingredient. So, do you want to know which cereals are packed with whole grain? Better yet, want to win FIVE boxes of them?

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Pin of the Week: Easy Cheesy Zucchini Bake Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:22:00 +0000

Source: KalynsKitchen.com

I've, seriously, enjoyed my "Pin of the Week" segment. It's been such a change in my lifestyle since I became a Pinterest user. That sounds silly, but I've found REALLY easy recipes that have little ingredients and are low-cost. I've EVEN been making healthy snacks and lunches thanks to all the recipes I've found. It's like we're a whole new family. No joke.

So, what's on tap for this week? Well, I love me some squash and zucchini. My children, however, do not. At all. I started searching for recipes that include these vegetables, but provide more taste the kids will love. That's when I found this Cheesy Zucchini Bake recipe. Oh my sweet tastebuds. It was so easy to make AND the kids enjoyed it too. Score!

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6 Things You Should Know Before You Shop at Joe V's

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:36:00 +0000

If you guys follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you may or may not have seen how geeky-nerdy-excited I was about the new Joe V's Smart Shop opening, here, in Baytown. The Grand Opening was yesterday and I was there, in the rain and everything.

I've totally missed my H-E-B the last few weeks and have been forced to shop at other grocery stores, in which I will not name. A friend of mine picked me up and we headed out to our new grocery store. I've never been in a Joe V's Smart Shop before, so I really had no idea what to expect. I knew it would look like a Costco and would have insane low prices, but that's about it. I went. I shopped. I, quickly, realized that if you're a newbie to Joe V's Smart Shop, there's a few things you need to know before arriving.

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Marriage Matters: We're Living on Two Different Planets

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:15:00 +0000

Within a marriage, there lies a big ball of compromise, from the color of your sheets to what kind of bread to buy. He likes white. I love my wheat. Decisions are made, jointly, on a variety of topics and one just learns to compromise.

The first five, okay... wait.. no... the first eight years, it seemed as if I was the one to give in. Ok. You want hunter green walls in the bathroom? I can live with that. You want to move us 900 miles away from home? Ok. I'm sad, but uh... well... ok. In the last two years of a marriage, I finally felt comfortable saying No. That's not ok. No. I don't think it will benefit our family. The fact is, I think, I've always felt if I disagreed with him, it would start an argument (everyone knows I'm not good at confrontation), and we'll be well on our way to divorce. Little did I know that I was dealing with a creature from a different planet. How stupid of me.

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A Healthy Souper You with Progresso Soup {Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:04:00 +0000

This morning I talked to you guys about little changes I made in my diet in order to manage my weight loss. I, completely, gave up soda of any shape and form. Yup. No more Diet Coke. No more Dr. Pepper. I do have, an occasional glass of Ginger Ale, but that's few and far between.

Another thing I'm doing? Portion control and lighter lunches with Progresso Soups. I'm just BEYOND determined to have a new look for 2012. Are you ready for a new look this New Year too? Progresso® is excited to announce the return of their Souper You® Contest giving you the chance to win an incredible makeover! I don't know about you guys, but I'd LOVE to have a make-over. Oh, and I ALSO have your chance to win a few of those tasty soups and the Biggest Loser Workout DVD to jump start your commitment.

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