Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

NOVICA is the Place for Special Gifts {Giveaway}

2013-05-15T09:39:00.001-05:00

Spring and summer are a busy time for us with birthdays, not to mention Mother's and Father's days, anniversaries and so on. I have a hard time picking out meaningful gifts because the stores around here really don't carry anything that catches my eye. Shopping at NOVICA has become my life saver. NOVICA, who is in association with National Geographic, is giving artisans around the world a way to share their craft and it is providing us with amazing products. The site is easy to navigate and you can search for products by categories such as jewelry, furniture, and clothing or by price range or person you are buying for.

I adore all the treasures that I find on there and really have a hard time choosing what to buy. Anytime I buy something from NOVICA, it comes beautifully wrapped and usually has some sort of post card from whatever country the piece is from.

One of my readers will win a $40 gift code to use on NOVICA.com, on any item they choose, but good luck trying to figure out what item is your favorite! All you have to do to enter the giveaway is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.

Due to the extreme amounts of entries that have not followed directions, I will be verifying each and every entry to make sure it is valid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a gift code from NOVICA, all opinions are my own

Take Them Out to a Ball Game #FamilySunday

2013-04-29T23:05:00.003-05:00

One of Americas favorite past times has always been baseball and nothing is better than spending a Sunday afternoon with your family watching a game. We took a little trip into the city, Chicago of course, and spent a beautiful Sunday at US Cellular Field watching the White Sox Play. This was our first time at US Cellular and it was such a positive experience. We got there a little early so that the kids could watch batting practice and get some autographs.

If you thought taking your family to a game was out of your budget, you really have to check out the Sox Family Sundays. Tickets start as low as $5 for the upper level and $15 for the lower. Parking is a breeze and is only $10. You can get autographs from current and former players as well as broadcasters. After the game the kids can also run the bases.

We got treated to an extra special day where we got to talk to some of the White Sox staff about all the great happenings with the team. Brooks Boyer, the White Sox senior vice president of sales and marketing welcomed us to the game and shared with us details about this awesome Family Sunday promotion.

“For many years, we have worked hard to create one of the very best family environments in all of baseball." said Brooks Boyer, "As we continue to closely listen to fans regarding the cost of the ballpark experience, the Family Sunday promotion is our next move in creating affordable seating options in both the lower and upper levels of the park. Welcoming fans of all ages on a day that is traditionally dedicated to family time, we hope Family Sundays become a popular way for fans to share a baseball experience together.”

The White Sox are passionate about giving back to their community and love to involve their fans. They created their Volunteer Corps to better their communities and have already had a great response with over 5,400 fans joining them on their mission. You can learn more about how to join by clicking HERE.

We got to hang out with Southpaw as well.

The White Sox have an awesome kids club (free and paid options), membership includes coupons for tickets to games!

Look what I got to try on!

We had an amazing day, the staff was so friendly and the ball park was amazing. This will be something that we will continue to do as a family for years to come.

I want to thank the White Sox staff, Brooks Boyer and everyone else we met for the great experience at US Cellular field.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own, we were invited to a complementary game at US Cellular, which we enjoyed very much.

Monday Morning Winner Announcement

2013-04-29T09:01:00.000-05:00

Good Morning! I have winners to announce today, Yay! Ok first is the winner of the Origami Owl giveaway for the $40 Gift Certificate

#284 Linda Garland, congrats Linda

Next is the winner of the Real Kids Shades, right in time for sunny weather

#10 Janet Watson, Congrats Janet

The winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to reply, thanks to all who entered there will be more giveaways coming soon.

I Had a House Full of Boys for an #XtremeCustomzParty

2013-04-26T08:36:00.002-05:00

Little boys love to play with cars and we were so excited to find out that we would be hosting an Xtreme Customz party for my son and his friends. Xtreme Customz let you customize your ride any way you like.

There were lots of excited boys here for the party, they could hardly wait to get started putting together their Batman Ridez.

I was worried when I saw the pieces that it might be difficult to assemble the cars, but everything snaps in an out very easily and they had no trouble at all.

The quality of the cars and parts was great, which made me happy because boys tend to be rough with their toys.

They were so proud of their creations! We had a blast and the boys were so excited to find out that they would be taking their cars home.

Thank you to MommyParties and Ridemakerz Extreme Customz for sending us this awesome party pack, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this post.

Photo Ready Giveaway Event

2013-04-25T20:37:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Photo Ready Giveaway Event

Organized by: Mom Powered Media

Please take a moment to say hello to our sponsor: Giveaway Booster

Have a giveaway? Great! Now, how do you get the word out about your giveaway? Of course you want to reach more than just your audience right?! Giveaway Booster was created to help you reach a larger audience to promote your giveaways. Give your giveaway a BOOST through email, blogs, and all forms of social media!

Giveaway Booster offers several services:

Promote Your Giveaway - Submit your giveaway, sweepstakes or contests and they will promote them! You can even have your giveaway promoted on several sites!List Your Giveaway Event - Bloggers do you need more bloggers to help you promote an event you are planning? List your giveaway for other bloggers to sign up.Join Giveaway Events - Are you a blogger looking to join all these great events? Sign-up to offer your readers these great giveaways and grow your social media in the process.Fans Enter Giveaways - Do you love to enter giveaways? Enter to win!!

Now let's talk about the fabulous prize package which includes:

Canon EOS REBEL T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 3-inch Touchscreen and Full HD Movie Mode (Body) - Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II SLR Zoom Lens - Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens - Telephoto & Wide Angle Lens Set - 3 pc Filter Kit: UV/ Polarizing filter/Fluorescent correction & Case - 32 Gigabyte SDHC Secure Digital Memory Card - Secure Digital USB Card Reader - Universal Memory Card Wallet - Pack of LCD Screen Protectors - Additional LP-E8 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Replacement Battery Pack - Well Protective SLR Camera Gadget Bag w/Pockets & Strap - Full Size 59" Tripod W/Case - Focus DVD Guide to Digital SLR Cameras - Focus Digital Grey Card Set for color correction - Focus 5pc Deluxe Lens Care & Cleaning Kit - HDMI cable

Special thank you to our lovely co-hosts {make sure to stop by and say hello}: Thinking Outside The Sandbox, Tiny Tidbits of an NC Diva, What's Up Reviews and Giveaways, 3 Boys and a Dog, Panlasang Pinoy Filipino Recipes, Mom to Bed by 8, Baby Costcutters and Powered By Mom.

One lucky winner will receive the Canon EOS REBEL T4i Prize Package {detailed above}!

Giveaway ends May 14th at 11:59pm, open worldwide residents, ages 18+. Residents outside of the US will receive a $750 Amazon GC instead. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Diary of a Stay at Home Mom is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Grilling up Something Healthy

2013-04-22T09:14:00.003-05:00

Many of you know my husband and I have really changed the way we eat, our diet consist of mainly lean proteins and fruits and veggies. I wanted to come up with a grill recipe that incorporated mainly fruits and vegetables but would be filling enough for a man's appetite. We went to Mariano's in Hoffman Estates because they have huge selection of fresh produce, some even locally sourced, at amazing prices. Buying locally sourced produce keeps money within your community and brings you the freshest produce you can get.

I love shopping here because everything looks and tastes like its been just picked from a garden. They have a very large selection of organics which is important to us and their prices are really unbeatable.

The store is clean and modern and makes shopping for groceries fun and not a hassle. Even my kids love bagging up the fruits and veggies. There was also live music played on a piano which I thought was a really nice touch! Mariano's also offers a rewards card to give their shoppers even more ways to save.

Since it was snowing/sleeting outside, I could not use our outdoor grill so I used my handy dandy stovetop grill. I always use coconut oil when I cook, its a healthy alternative to other oils.

Portabella mushrooms are a nice alternative to meat, they're filling and delicious. I grilled these with the zucchini while I prepared the rest of my ingredients.

I am currently obsessed with fresh pineapple (this is NOT canned) and have been eating a lot of it. I have a pineapple cutter that cores and cuts my pineapple into these perfect slices, making it even easier for me to love this fruit. If you want to see step by step instructions for this recipe, you can check out my Google+ album by clicking HERE. Each picture has a caption and you can create this meal at home too.

Here is the complete meal, a large portabella mushroom cap filled with spinach, topped with tomato and cheese, served with grilled pineapple and zucchini. It was delicious, healthy and totally guilt free.

You can also check out Mariano's Facebook page or follow them on Twitter to keep up with all of their in store specials, recipes and more.

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Mariano’s #cbias #SocialFabric #MyMarianos

All Aboard The Great Chicago Kiddie Express! #Chicago

2013-04-22T08:36:00.002-05:00

Want to make your child's next birthday party memorable? If you are looking for some great entertainment for a birthday party, family reunion, company picnic or any other gathering, then hop on board The Great Chicago Kiddie Express, a ride that is perfect for everyone from kids to adults.

Kids will love riding the trackless train as it chugs around taking them for a ride. The trackless train, as the name says, requires no tracks. It is a realistic version of a real train. Since this train is "trackless", it can go just about everywhere! The train can ride on cement, asphalt, or pavement surfaces. An ideal location would be a parking lot or a residential street. The train can carry 15 to 20 children in its 4 cars, or a reduced number of adults. For everyone's safety there are also nets between cars and double latched doors. Train whistles and hats are also available for the complete train experience.

Present the coupon below for $50 off your spring or summer rental.

Every little kid dreams of going on a train ride, and now they can enjoy their very own train at on their special day. This is the perfect entertainment for every train themed birthday party, 4th of July party, or special event and after looking at your kids face once they go for a ride, you'll be in choo choo heaven!

Visit www.ChicagoKiddieTrain.com for more information

Matchbox Heroes Wanted College Scholarship Sweepstakes

2013-04-21T22:29:00.003-05:00

Every child has a hero and weather that hero is an imaginary character like Super Man, or a real life hero like a fire fighter, your child can enter an awesome $60,000 college scholarship sweepstakes from Matchbox.

“Since its launch, Matchbox has enabled kids to live out their own adventures with inspiration from the many community heroes they see and interact with every day,” said Matt Petersen, vice president of North America boys marketing, Mattel. “Sixty years later, Matchbox continues to fuel the imagination of kids around the world through heroic vehicle play.”

The Matchbox Heroes Wanted Sweepstakes is asking parents to submit a picture and caption of their little hero-in-training dressed as their favorite real-life hero. All submissions will be displayed on the Matchbox Heroes Wanted facebook gallery and will be entered to win the grand prize of a $60,000 college scholarship.

Maddox dressed as his favorite real-life hero, his Super Dad!

If you have a child between the ages of 3 and 10, they can be entered in to the contest anytime between now and May 13th, 2013.

There will be 60 prize packs given away weekly, they include a Matchbox gift box, personalized photo-frame thank you card and 4 heroic Matchbox vehicles. To learn more about the contest and read stories from the heroes that inspired Matchbox vehicles, visit www.Matchbox.com/Heroes.

**This post was part of a sponsored campaign with MomSelect**

Bloggers Wanted for Giveaway Event

2013-04-11T08:39:00.000-05:00

Photo Ready Giveaway Event

Organized by: Mom Powered Media

Prize: Canon EOS REBEL T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital Camera Prize Package {RV$950+}

Event dates: 4/23 - 5/14

SIGN-UP HERE!

Origami Owl {Giveaway}

2013-04-10T07:53:00.002-05:00

If you are looking for a fresh new jewelry item to freshen up your look, you have to check out Origami Owl. What Origami Owl offers is these beautiful Living Lockets, they look like little windows, and you can customize them by filling them with your favorite charms. Think of it as a cross between a locket and a charm bracelet. Origami Owl was founded by a 14 year old girl in 2010 and is now a super successful company with Independent Designers selling this unique jewelry in the comfort of your own home.

Origami Owl also offers Tagged Necklaces that are customizeable with initials, words and charms. These are my favorite.

The necklace I got has my children's initials as well as a super cute skeleton key. There are also Limited Edition Tagged necklaces like the Rascal Flatts one you can get from your designer.

If you are not sure if there is a designer near you, Meghan Conley would like to be your go to designer and is offering my readers two amazing deals. The first is the invitation to join her team by May 15th and receive a $50 Gift Certificate. All you have to do is click HERE and enter her ID number which is 14205.

The second great offer is the chance to win a $40 Gift Certificate! YES! You can win $40 to spend on your favorite Origami Owl merchandise. All you have to do is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Advancements Being Made in Online Shopping

2013-04-05T06:55:00.001-05:00

Technology and the Internet continue to change how consumers purchase products. More brands and retailers are shifting their focus away from brick and mortar stores, and putting it on developing strategies to increase online purchases. The number of people who shop online increases every year, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Online shopping first took hold in the late 1990s but has exploded in recent years due to advancements that retailers are making to improve a customer's online experience. Here are a few of the advancements that are being made to increase the enjoyment of shopping online.

Increasing Focus on Functionality

A few years ago, the majority of online retailers were more concerned about how their website or store looked, rather than how easy it was to navigate. Stores were flashy, colorful, and had tons of content to be viewed by potential customers. Rather than being pleased with slick aesthetic, many consumers were simply annoyed by how hard it was to find products and make purchases. In the past few years, retailers have finally started listening to the complaints of their patrons. Many stores are now very minimal in design, and include easy to use search functions. Ease of use is an important factor for online shoppers. After all, convenience is why consumers are shopping on the Internet in the first place. This shift is encouraging those who previously wanted nothing to do with e-shopping, to open their minds and give it a try.

Daily Deals and Sales

One of the biggest benefits of online shopping is finding the items you want for a low, affordable price. Retailers have caught on to the fact that Internet shoppers want to save money, and have decided to put out special deals or sales on a daily basis. It's not uncommon to get an email of Facebook notification from a retailer saying, "save 20% off any order of $100+" or reducing the price of a product for a special limited time if the item is purchased online. Those who follow a specific retailer will be quick to jump at the chance to get an awesome product for a special low price, even if it means doing the unthinkable, and ordering the item online.

Social Networks

Both major retailers and smaller ones are jumping on the social media bandwagon, but not without good reason. Most people do not use a consumer report guide to check out whether or not a product is worth buying. Most people now use the Internet to look up reviews of specific products and retailers to see what other people, just like them, are saying about it. Following a retailer on Facebook gives the consumer the opportunity to not only discover new products, but to leave feedback about the product and service they receive. With so many people following their pages, retailers use these platforms to discuss new products or sales, drawing more traffic to their websites and e-stores. This connection between consumer and retailer is encouraging more people to buy products online.

**This post contains sponsored content**

Real Kids Shades {Giveaway}

2013-04-01T09:00:00.003-05:00

Its the first day of April and its finally starting to look and feel like spring outside. I love waking up to birds chirping and the sun shining. When the sun starts kicking up its rays and making them brighter, I make sure the kids wear their sunglasses anytime we go outside. Why? Because just like the sun can damage your skin, it can also cause permanent damage to your eyes, especially to children under the age of 10. My kids love their Real Kids Shades because they are made especially for kids, plus they look really cool.

My son has these Glide Shades and loves them!

They offer 100% UV Protection (UVA and UVB) to 400 nanometers
They have rubber tipped temples
Professional grade polycarbonate frames and lenses
Shatterproof and Impact Resistant
Wrap style design for a close and comfortable fit that minimizes peripheral light
Waterproof and Rustproof
Come with a removable neoprene strap

My daughter has there Fabulous shades, she loves how stylish they are and I love how they protect her eyes. Right now Real Kids Shades is running an amazing giveaway on their facebook page, all you have to do is click on the picture below for more info and to enter.

GIVEAWAY:

One of my awesome readers will also win their choice of Real Kids Shades, all you have to do to enter is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received sunglasses for review purposes, all opinions are my own

Add Some Music To Your Life

2013-03-29T00:20:00.002-05:00

Music should be part of everyone's life and music lessons should be an important part of every child's life. Studies show that learning to play an instrument can boost a child's memory and brain power. Taking lessons teaches kids patience, and practicing teaches them discipline. No matter how you look at it, music is great. Finding a good, qualified instructor, on the other hand, can prove to be a challange. TakeLessons.com does just that, they connect students with private music teachers and instructors through out the country. They have been around since 2006 and have worked with over 30,000 students all over the U.S. Every instructor has to go through an interview process complete with criminal backgroud check and training. TakeLessons.com takes care of all the details like scheduling and billing so that all you have to do is enjoy learning.

Lessons are available in home, in studio and online via Skype. This is perfect for busy families who want to cut down on driving around. There are over 30 different lesson types offered such as guitar, singing, piano, drums, dance and even acting and academic tutoring. They offer 100% money back guaratee. Scheduling is flexible and there are no long term contracts. Lessons are available for all ages young and old and for any level of experience.

Right now you can take advantage of their spring sale. TakeLessons.com is offering a 20% discount off all lesson packages Friday March 29th through Monday April 1st just use the promo code "SPRINGMUSIC". You can schedule online or call 855-334-1831 to find out more about pricing and options.

To schedule online, click HERE

**This post is sponsored by TakeLessons.com, all opinions are my own

What to Eat When There's No Time to Cook? #FrozenFacts #Spon

2013-03-27T18:37:00.001-05:00

Its a bit ironic that this blog is called Diary of a Stay at Home Mom when in all reality I am hardly ever home. In fact, when I am home I am usually running around like mad trying to catch up on my chores or my homework or the kids homework. I try to cook as much as I can but there are times when we just don't have the time, and going out to eat all the time is not an option. I have to keep a few things in my freezer just in case. Those of you who think that all frozen meals taste like cardboard have not tried Healthy Choice Honey Balsamic Chicken.

What I love about Healthy Choice meals is that they are not heavily processed, but made with simple fresh ingredients. A lot of their meals are chef created and use ingredients like apples instead of sugar for tart sweetness and red wine for flavor instead of added salt.

If you are a regular reader you probably know that we have been doing really well on our healthy eating, well three out of the four of us since the five year old is not quite on board. These meals have built in portion control and there are over 80 meals with less than 400 calories. The calorie count is right on the box so there is no guessing. I also love that they are so easy to make, my 9 year old can read the directions and prepare one for herself.

ConAgra Foods frozen meals give families access to real ingredients like crunchy, freshly cut vegetables, homemade pasta and ripe fruit year-round. Just like most people blanch veggies before freezing them – ConAgra Foods does too – to help preserve color, texture and keep them fresh!

Give it a try sometime! Marie Callender’s hearty pot pies are filled with tender meat, freshly cut vegetables and Marie’s authentic golden, flaky crust. And Healthy Choice recipes use chef-inspired ingredients like, apples instead of sugar for tart sweetness and a splash of red wine for a punch of flavor instead of added salt.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of ConAgra Foods.

Hot Wheels Free Event in Tinley Park

2013-03-27T17:23:00.003-05:00

Hot Wheels is organizing a free event for kids in Illinois next weekend.

It will be a great event for families to attend. They will have larger-than-life Hot Wheels toys, kids can race their favorite cars on the 20 foot long Downhill 5 Lane Track and they will have the life size 2013 Hot Wheels Camaro on site. Click here for more info.

Red Tricycle is Giving Away Amazing Prizes #Chicago

2013-03-23T07:29:00.000-05:00

Red Tricycle, an online city guide for busy parents, just launched their Chicago edition and they are celebrating it with 27 Awesome local prizes. Red Tricycle's scoured the city for the coolest kid-loving shops and come up with this list of Chicago’s best kept secrets and not-so-secrets in a super-fun giveaway just for you. From photo shoots to shopping sprees to fitness and yoga classes, each prize pack offers a little something for every mom (or dad) on the town. Check it out here http://woobox.com/b9937n?web=1

Complete list of the prizes:

Tales From the Coop #BackYardChickens

2013-03-22T22:21:00.001-05:00

I swear there is never a dull moment at my house. Last week we brought home ten more baby chicks and two more baby ducks, yes I'm a sucker. Then my husband, who understands how insane I am, brought me five little bantam babies. I have the bantams separate from the standards for now because they are so tiny I was afraid they would get hurt.

Here is a little size comparison, sorry about the poor photo quality, I am still only able to use my phone because I've been too lazy to go buy a new charger for my camera battery.

Blue Swede Ducklings, which will probably be black and not the blue I had hoped

So the past week or so we lost two of our girls (hens) to something that got into the chicken coop. I suspected that it was a raccoon. I have been going out early to close them up, before it gets dark, but today I just didn't get out there in time. I walked in to see a giant (I mean huge) raccoon holding one of my ducks by the neck. He was not even scared of me when I walked in. He dragged the duck, which I thought was dead, out the little chicken door. I knew he would not be able to carry it over the fence, plus the other two chickens he ate right there in the pen, so I ran in to tell my husband to grab his gun. By the time we got out there the coon was gone. The duck was actually still alive, he does have a bite mark on his neck but he's moving around just fine. I'm not sure how well he will do with the other birds and if they will end up picking on him so I guess only morning will tell. Either the duck was too big for the raccoon or he did actually get spooked. My husband fired his gun anyway just to scare him if he was close by. Normally I would bring the injured bird inside but I honestly have no where to put him right now and he seemed to be doing ok. I would really hate to go in there in the morning to find him not alive but there is little I can do right now. I guess tomorrow my husband is going to buy a live trap so we can get this greedy raccoon. I wish I had gotten a picture of him, he was a big boy.

This awesome picture was taken by my mother (she's an amazing photographer). This was my Polish Crested Roo who I no longer have

Medieval Times Winner Announced

2013-03-22T07:33:00.001-05:00

As promised I have a winner for the Medieval Times Giveaway!

The winner is number 42 bmarianmarcellus

Winner has been notified by email!

Build Your Own Adventure at Legoland Discovery Center Chicago

2013-03-20T09:05:00.000-05:00

If you have a kid that loves to build with Lego bricks, or maybe you yourself could spend hours buiding, you have to check out Legoland Discovery Center in Chicago. The Legoland Discovery Center is located on the Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg, and features a 4D cinema, lessons and building secrets from Master Model Builders, and an all new Star Wars mini land. This is the unltimate place for Lego fans.

Rides & Attractions

Lego Star Wars Miniland Model Display

Lego Factory

4D Cinema

Kingdom Quest Laser Ride

Miniland

Lego Racers: Build and Test

Technicycle Ride

Jungle Expedition

Lego City Construction Site

Master Builder Academy

Duplo Village

Earthquake Tables

Lego Friends

Cafe

Legoland Discovery Center Shop

Birthday Rooms

If you are looking for a great place to take your kids this spring break you have to head to Legoland Discovery Center, but plan to stay a while because they will not want to leave.

Legoland Discovery Center Chicago is located at:

Streets of Woodfield
601 N. Martingale Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Giveaway
I am giving away a family 4 pack of tickets (2 children and 2 adults) to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter is follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions

Family ticket includes up to two adults and two children. Ticket is valid for US residents till the end of 2013

If widget does not appear, click on rafflecopter link to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Who Wants to Go to Medieval Times? #Chicago #Giveaway

2013-03-18T22:11:00.002-05:00

Sometimes a big trip just is not in the cards for spring break, but that does not mean you can't have some fun locally. If you are looking for something that will feed and entertain you as well as let your kids be loud and eat with their hands, Medieval Times would love for you to be their guest!

Who would not love to spend their afternoon in a castle with a king and princess, with brave knights and a royal feast? That is exactly what you will encounter when you enjoy a dinner and tournament at Medieval Times in Schaumburg.

"Surrender to an age of bravery and honor and witness epic battles of steel and steed during our ALL-NEW SHOW. From ringside seats, discover a feast of the eyes and appetite with more action, more fun & more excitement than ever before.

As you thrill to a rousing live jousting tournament, marvel at awe-inspiring horsemanship and falconry, Medieval Times serves a four-course meal fit for royalty."

The show really does keep you on the edge of your seat and there is never a dull moment as you cheer on your knight. The food is also outstanding and the portion sizes are huge. This is the kind of dinner and tournament that both young and old will enjoy, and would be a great way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. We took our Girl Scout troop there on scout night and the girls had a blast! When you get to the castle you will be seated in a color section that corresponds to the knight you will be cheering for, its so much fun hearing all the cheering and booing during the tournament!

I am so excited to be giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Medieval Times! Please note that this is for the Schaumburg (Chicago) castle only so if you are not local please let others have a chance to win. All you need to do to enter is leave me a comment below and make sure you include your email address so I have a way to contact you if you win. This will be a short giveaway ending Thursday (3/21) at midnight with a winner chosen on Friday. Good Luck!

10th Annual Money Smart Kid Essay Contest

2013-03-16T00:05:00.000-05:00

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Hosts 10th Annual Money Smart Kid Essay Contest

Middle school students, grades 5-8, in the Chicagoland area are invited to participate in the 10^th annual Money Smart Kid Essay Contest, sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Essays must be 300 words or less. The contest deadline is March 21, 2013.

This year’s essay topic is:

What is the difference between an investment and an expense? What would be a good investment in your community and why? Include who would benefit from your investment.

The winner will be announced on April 17 and receive a $5,000 scholarship from BMO Harris Bank. The two runner-ups will receive $2,500 scholarships from Country Financial. Three others rounding out the top six will receive laptops from Woodforest National Bank. The first 20 teachers with two student entries will receive a $25 gift card courtesy of BMO Harris Bank.

The six finalists are invited to attend the April 17 Money Smart Week^® Kick-Off breakfast where the winning student will be announced and invited to read his or her essay.

The essay contest is part of the activities taking place during the annual Money Smart Week^®April 20-27, featuring free, educational financial literacy programs across the Chicago area at libraries and other community venues. Topics range from budgeting and estate planning, to saving for college and retirement.

“The Money Smart Kid Essay Contest is one of our most popular programs,” said Alejo Torres, senior outreach program manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. “It’s a great opportunity for us and our partnering organizations to engage kids in better understanding money management. We can plant a seed that will hopefully grow into knowledge that helps them make smarter financial decisions when they go off to college and become adults.”

To learn more about Money Smart Week^® or the Money Smart Week Kid Contest, visit, www.moneysmartweek.org

About Money Smart Week

Money Smart Week^® is a public awareness campaign to promote financial literacy across all age groups. Launched in 2002 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the program is now active in more than 35 states through national partnerships with the American Library Association and the Financial Planning Association. New 2013 national partners are the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Cooperative Extension. More than 3,000 free, financial literacy programs are offered during Money Smart Week^® on topics ranging from budgeting to saving for college and retirement. Events are coordinated and hosted by partnering organizations including local banks, universities, government agencies, community groups and libraries.

The Best Fried Rice in the World #LoveEveryMinute

2013-03-13T15:48:00.001-05:00

I needed a quick and delicious recipe a while back when I had some leftover rice and wanted a side to go with my dinner, and this pineapple fried rice is amazing. I used leftover rice but if you don't have any sitting in your fridge, pick up a box of Minute Rice (white or brown, whatever you like better) and prepare some according to the directions on the box. Everyone has a box (or should have a box) of Minute Rice in their pantry, it is a life saver when you need to make a quick meal that the whole family will love. By the way, this rice goes great with pork chops!

Once you have your rice ready, set it aside and prepare the rest of the ingredients. I will apologize in advance, I never measure when I cook, I just add ingredients and taste test.

You will need:
Carrots (chopped), green peas (frozen not canned) pineapple chunks (drained) and chickpeas. You will also need soy sauce for seasoning.

Add a little oil to a frying pan and add the pineapple and chopped carrots, sautee for a few minutes then add the rice. Once you get that mixed together well, add the chickpeas and green peas and continue to sautee while stirring it all up. The final step is to add some soy sauce, I never measure when I cook, so add a little at a time and taste test.

There are other things you can put in this recipe that are optional but would also be delicious, like some almond pieces for a bit of crunch or some onion to give it a little bit of a different flavor.

Turn this side into the main course by adding some cubed ham. Nothing goes with pineapple quite like ham.

Minute® Rice is so quick and easy to prepare and is great pantry staple. When meal time seems like a hassle, Minute® Rice is a go-to ingredient your whole family will love and allows you to have more quality time doing what your want with your loved ones. Leftover rotisserie chicken or veggies from a meal earlier in the week? Minute® Rice can easily be paired with some of your leftover ingredients to make a quick, easy and wholesome meal your whole family will love in just a matter of minutes. Visit http://www.minuterice.com/ to create a great main meal or side dish for your next family get-together or potluck.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Rice.

Chicago Flower and Garden Show

2013-03-12T14:23:00.003-05:00

I was super busy this weekend attending several events but my favorite was the very last one, the Chicago Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier. I am so ready for spring its not even funny but my yard is still a mix of dirty snow, puddles and MUD. This show was the perfect way for me to get my flower fix until its time to plant my own.

Just check out these breathtaking roses, they were so pretty I could not take my eyes off of them. These were by the Mariano's display, they were all for sale too.

One of my favorite fountains was this old piano and trumpets. The quote on the piano said "there is music in water if you stop to listen."

Mariano's really stood out at the show, they even had one of their chefs demonstrate how to prepare a delicious salad. The recipe was available to take home so now I will have to see if I can duplicate it.

This salad was great, it tasted like summer time. I love the combination of salad, fruit and pine nuts.

How can you not instantly feel great walking through all of these flowers. I wanted to buy all of them but I did not know how well they would do on my long train ride home.

Not only were Mariano's flowers beautiful, they were so inexpensive. Roses were $1 each and these little potted daffodils were only $4. The show is still going on through next weekend so if you are looking for something to do you should head on over. There are demos, classes, shopping and so many flowers.

If you want to see all my photos from the show, check out my album HERE.

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Mariano’s #cbias #SocialFabric #mymarianos

My Happy Place

2013-02-28T09:10:00.000-06:00

I have a hard time with winter, I usually get seasonal blues and I hate being cold. This year was not quite as bad as previous years but as much as I keep reminding myself that were almost in March and this is the home stretch, all I see is snow outside. All I keep thinking about is the Florida sunshine and how much I would rather be there than here. We were just in Orlando at the end of August and beginning of September but it seems like it was years ago and I miss it so much. Not only could I literally live on a beach but because of this....

I love Disney World and I think its one of those places that I will always enjoy. My brother used to joke that my brain works like a Disney Movie, well if that is the case then its happy, colorful and full of fun and adventure. This was my kids' first time to Disney World and they have been asking non stop when we can go back.

This is about how 90% of our picture from Magic Kingdom look, with the pirate pose!

I highly recommend taking your kids before they are snotty tweens who don't want to hang out with their parents. This trip was planned for my little girls 9th birthday (it was a surprise) and I think it was the perfect age to take them. My son is 5 but he walked all day in the hot Florida sun, for three days straight, with no complaints plus was tall enough to ride every ride.

I love road trips and wanted my kids to experience driving through all the states down to Florida. We had so much fun stopping at all these crazy rest stops and restaurants. If you drive down there, you have to stop at the Florida Welcome Center (I think that's what its called), they have about a million brochures and the kids took one of each. The rest of the drive to Orlando they looked through them and got so excited about where we were about to arrive. If you have been thinking about it, just do it already, you won't regret it I promise!

This sponsored post was made possible by SheHeard. I have been compensated for my time and work on this campaign, however all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Amazing #Paleo Brownies

2013-02-26T22:20:00.001-06:00

Now that I have been eating Paleo for a while, it just gets easier and easier to say no to processed foods. I do miss the occasional sweets, and even though fruit usually hits the spot, its nice to have a little treat from time to time. This brownie recipe is really delicious so don't get discouraged after you see the ingredients, I promise they are yummy, even my kids ate them.

One thing to remember about Paleo desserts is that they are sugar and grain free so they are not exactly like brownies made with butter, flour and sugar. These are more mild in sweetness but not bitter like plain dark chocolate. So here we go:

Ingredients:

1 bar of dark, unsweetened chocolate (70% or more)
3 avocados
3 eggs
1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup raw honey
1 Tbsp Vanilla extract
1tsp Baking Soda
1 Tbsp Coconut Flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp Coconut oil (plus a little more to grease the pan)
Optional: Fresh raspberries or strawberries for topping

You could probably add walnuts but I chose not to.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Grease an 8x8 baking pan with some coconut oil

Peel and pit the avocados and put in mixing bowl, use mixer and get them as smooth as you can. Put coconut oil in small saucepan and let melt, then add the dark chocolate. Make sure you stir it on low so it does not burn. Pour the melted chocolate over the avocados and mix again. One by one add other ingredients blending well with the mixer. You do not want any chunks of avocado left in your mix.

Pour the mix into the prepared pan and bake for about 35 minutes. Let cool before eating.