SAHM's Crazy Life!

Disney's "Million Dollar Arm" Has Started Production

2013-06-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

DISNEY’S “MILLION DOLLAR ARM” BEGINS PRODUCTION

FILM SHOOTING IN INDIA, GEORGIA AND LOS ANGELES

Burbank, Calif. (May 30, 2013) Principal photography has begun on Walt Disney Pictures’ “Million Dollar Arm,” starring Jon Hamm. Directed by Craig Gillespie (“Lars and the Real Girl,” “Fright Night”), the film is produced by Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, through their Mayhem Pictures, and Joe Roth, under his Roth Films banner, with Palak Patel and Kevin Halloran serving as executive producers. Tom McCarthy (“Win Win,” “The Visitor”) wrote the screenplay. The film also stars Bill Paxton (“Haywire,” “Hatfields & McCoys”), Lake Bell (“What Happens in Vegas,” “It’s Complicated”), Suraj Sharma (“Life of Pi”), Aasif Mandvi (“The Daily Show,” “Margin Call”), Madhur Mittal (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Pitobash (“Three Idiots,” “Shanghai”) and Academy Award®–winner Alan Arkin. A.R. Rahman (“127 Hours,” “Slumdog Millionaire”) is scoring the film. “Million Dollar Arm” will shoot on locations in India, Georgia and Los Angeles.

Based on a true story, Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” follows JB Bernstein, a once-successful sports agent who now finds himself edged out by bigger, slicker competitors. He and his partner Aash (Aasif Mandvi) will have to close their business down for good if JB doesn’t come up with something fast. Late one night, while watching cricket being played in India on TV, JB comes up with an idea so radical it just might work. Why not go to there and find the next baseball pitching sensation? Setting off for Mumbai with nothing but a gifted but cantankerous scout (Alan Arkin) in tow, JB stages a televised, nationwide competition called “Million Dollar Arm” where 40,000 hopefuls compete before two 18-year-old finalists, Rinku and Dinesh (Suraj Sharma, Madhur Mittal), emerge as winners. JB brings them back to the United States to train with legendary pitching coach Tom House (Bill Paxton). The goal: get the boys signed to a major league team.

Not only is the game itself difficult to master, but life in the U.S. with a committed bachelor makes things even more complicated—for all of them. While Rinku and Dinesh learn the finer points of baseball and American culture, they in turn teach JB the true meaning of teamwork and commitment. Ultimately, what began as a purely commercial venture becomes something more and leads JB to find the one thing he was never looking for at all—a family.

The producing team of Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, producers of such notable sports movies as “Secretariat,” “Miracle” and “The Rookie,” joins forces with veteran producer Joe Roth (“Oz The Great and Powerful,” “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Alice in Wonderland”) to bring Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” to the screen.

Director Craig Gillespie gained widespread recognition with the critically acclaimed “Lars and the Real Girl,” starring Oscar®-nominated Ryan Gosling. He also directed “Fright Night,” starring Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Tennant, Imogen Poots, and Toni Collette. For television, Gillespie produced and directed the highly acclaimed Showtime series “United States of Tara.” His direction of the pilot episode earned Toni Collette both an Emmy® Award and a Golden Globe® Award.

Golden Globe® winner Jon Hamm is perhaps best-known for his nuanced portrayal of high-powered, philandering advertising executive Don Draper on AMC’s award-winning drama series “Mad Men.” His previous film credits include “Friends with Kids,” which he also produced; “Bridesmaids,” “The Town,” “Sucker Punch,” “Howl,” “Shrek Forever After,” as the voice of “Brogan,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Ira & Abby,” “Kissing Jessica Stein” and “We Were Soldiers.” He recently completed HBO’s “Clear History” with Larry David for director Greg Mottola and the BBC miniseries “A Young Doctor’s Notebook,” opposite Daniel Radcliffe, which he also executive produced.

Alan Arkin, one of the most respected artists of the stage and screen, won an Academy Award^® for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 2006 hit “Little Miss Sunshine.” For his role, Arkin also won an Independent Spirit Award and a BAFTA Award, and shared in a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award^® for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast, in addition to receiving an individual SAG Award^®nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. Arkin most recently earned Oscar^®, BAFTA and Golden Globe^® Award nominations for his supporting performance in director Ben Affleck’s Oscar^®-winning Best Picture “Argo,” which also won the BAFTA Award for Best Picture.

Talented, multi-faceted actor Bill Paxton has starred in many audience-pleasing hit films, including “Titanic,” “Apollo 13,” “Aliens” “Twister,” “Mighty Joe Young,” “Spy Kids, 2&3” and “Tombstone.” He was recently seen in “The Colony,” “Shanghai Calling” and “Haywire.” On television, Paxton is well known for the series “Big Love,” for which he was Golden Globe® nominated, and recently starred in the award-winning miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys” opposite Kevin Costner.

Lake Bell wrote, produced, starred in and directed her most recent film, “In A World…,” which garnered Bell the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at Sundance this year. Bell was also seen at this year's Sundance Film Festival in the film “Black Rock,” opening in May 2013, directed by Katie Aselton. Other film credits include, among others, “A Good Old Fashioned Orgy,” Paramount’s hit comedy “No Strings Attached,” Nancy Meyer's “It's Complicated,” “What Happens in Vegas” and “Pride and Glory.”

Suraj Sharma won acclaim for his portrayal of Pi Patel in Ang Lee’s acclaimed movie “Life of Pi.” With no previous experience, Lee cast Sharma for the role of Pi, following an extensive, months-long search throughout India. For his work in “Life of Pi,” Sharma earned a Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Young Actor, an Empire Award nomination for Best Male Newcomer and won the Sierra Youth in Film Award from the Las Vegas Film Critics as well as the MTV Movie Award for Best Scared as Sh**t Performance, among others.

Aasif Mandvi, well known as a correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” is an accomplished actor who will next be seen in “The Internship,” starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson. Recent films include “Premium Rush,” “Ruby Sparks” and “Margin Call.”

Madhur Mittal is best known for his performance as Salim in the acclaimed film “Slumdog Millionaire,” which won the Academy Award® for Best Picture of 2008 and for which he won the Screen Actors Guild Award® for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Pitobash is a Hindi film actor known for his roles in “I Am Kalam,” “Shor in the City” and “Shanghai.” At the age of 12, Pitobash was honored with the “National Balshree Award” from the president of India in the field of creative performance. He later went on to join Bollywood as an actor.

Disney’s “Million Dollar Arm” is slated for a 2014 release.

New #MonstersU Clips in Theaters June 21st

2013-06-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

First Contact Get a glimpse of Mike & Sulley’s first morning as members of the Oozma Kappa brotherhood.

ROR Material Sulley's capture of the Archie, the rival school's mascot, just might be enough to make him worthy of joining the leading fraternity on campus: Roar Omega Roar

OK Initiation Oozma Kappa's sacred initiation ritual gets an unexpected interruption as the members try to welcome Mike & Sulley to their brotherhood.

#DisneyPlanes Activity Pages

2013-06-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

To celebrate #DisneyPlanes coming August 9th here are some activity pages to use while waiting!

#DisneyPlanes Takes Flight!

2013-06-01T01:47:00.001-04:00

“Like” Disney’s PLANES on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlanes

"Follow" Disney’s PLANES on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyPictures

Visit the website: www.disney.com/Planes

Disney’s PLANES releases in theaters everywhere on August 9th!

Lily's Alex's Lemonade Stand

2013-05-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: no compensation given for this post. see disclosure policy

When life gives you lemons. . .you make Alex's Lemonade!

When my daughter was first diagnosed with a brain tumor, I knew nothing about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF). Then one morning in June while she was upstairs at the Children's Hospital of Phildelphia in the PICU recovering from brain surgery, I went downstairs to buy a cup of lemonade.

CHOP was buzzing with excitement--it was the ALSF annual Lemonade Days. I, however, was in a bad place. The day before Lily had complications during a procedure. I hated the world. I hated everything and everyone. I was spent.
Then I heard Liz Scott speak. I only remember one word that Liz said:
Hope.
Hearing this amazing woman and mother, who lost her child, tell me to have hope, saved me.

My daughter Lily is 7-year-olds and a brain tumor survivor. She was diagnosed when she was 14-months old, after weeks of throwing up. Her pediatrician kept diagnosing a GI bug and a bladder infection. Finally, we begged for more answers and we were sent to the emergency room at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Within 30 minutes we had our answer: a brain tumor.

Those are two words, you never, ever want to hear as a parent.

Lily has endured multiple brain surgeries, seven weeks of proton radiation and continued therapies to help improve her motor skills and strengthen her muscles. Brain surgery damaged Lily's overall muscle tone and coordination. Therapy and hard work has brought Lily full circle. The little girl who once could not walk, now runs and tumbles and dances. She is a shining beacon of hope and strength and love.

But we know that Lily's battle is not unique. Everyday, 46 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer. Everyday, 46 mothers and fathers learn that their child will begin the fight for their lives. Seven children die everyday at the hands of childhood cancer.

46 children is 46 too many. The suffering has to stop.

It because of these children that our family holds an Alex's Lemonade Stand to support ALSF every year. For the past five years, our family has hosted a Lemonade Stand in our front yard and online to raise money for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.

Childhood cancer research is consistently underfunded and under researched. But ALSF is working to change that. Since 2004, the foundation has made a major impact--raising over $50 million for research. It all started with Alex--a little girl who was really sick and really wise. Alex knew that every penny counts and every donation adds up.

This year, our family aims to raise $10,000 for a cure to all forms of childhood cancer. It is an enormous goal--but it is one we hope to reach with the help of kind and generous friends.

Every donation--whether $5 or $50 counts. When you buy a cup (or 100 cups, please!), you will be sipping in the beautiful stories of some of my favorite people in the world, my heroes. In honor of all those children, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who fight, have fought and will continue to sell lemonade for their friends, until cures for pediatric cancer are found, I ask, I beg you to raise a glass to these amazing blessings.

Together, we will beat childhood cancer, one icy cold, sweet cup of lemonade at a time!

To donate to Lily's stand:
http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/92855

To donate in person, come to the stand on June 1, in Lily's front yard in Lindenwold, NJ. There will be loads of great activities for the kids: face painting, a sour lemon face contest, moon bounce, crafts, raffle prizes and much more!

#DeliveryManMovie Sneak Peek and Sweepstakes #ad

2013-05-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: Please see disclosure page for more information.

The Delivery Man Sweepstakes:
Enter for a chance to deliver the perfect Father’s Day gift to your dad. Share your funniest photos of your father via Twitter and Instagram for a chance to win a 50' TV and other great prizes!

Linvilla Orchards Raspberry Festival #ad

2013-05-27T02:48:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: I was provided this information by Linvilla. Please see disclosure page.

Raspberries are Ripe for the Picking

At Linvilla Orchards Raspberry Festival

Take a trip into the country and spend a day outside on the farm. Whether you bring your family or go with friends, Linvilla Orchards annual Raspberry Festival on June 22 is going to be an entertaining day filled with exciting activities and fields of ripe raspberries ready for you to pick right of the plant!

You know the saying; the early bird gets the worm, so if you're awake, picking starts at 8 am. But if sleeping in is more your speed, Linvilla is open until 7 pm. Recipes and samples will also be available throughout the day. Bring the kids to get pictures with Bouncing Tiger, Mystery Dog and Purple Dinosaur, ride a pony and get their faces painted. Everyone will enjoy the live concert by Jesse Loewy with Special Brew'd.

If you need a break from all the excitement, head over to the Linvilla Grill for some lunch or the Farm Market to pick up fresh produce and baked goods. Or, check out Linvilla's Garden Center to see what will take your garden to the next level. Looking for that special flower or a specific tool? The Garden Center has it all!

Linvilla Orchards is a 300-acre family farm dedicated to agriculture, education and entertainment, and is located at 137 West Knowlton Road, in Media, PA. Call 610-876-7116 or visit www.Linvilla.com.

#Spon BBQ & Bluegrass Festival at Tuckerton Seaport in NJ

2013-05-26T23:32:00.000-04:00

*Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Real Mom Media please see disclosure page for more info.

We had the pleasure of visiting Tuckerton Seaport & Bayman's Museum last weekend and let me tell you what a gem it is. Wish we had visited long before now. Located in Tuckerton New Jersey, the seaport is a great destination for family fun with a gift shop, annual events, and festivals. They are open daily rain or shine from 10am-5pm all year long and very inexpensive... Adults $8, Seniors $6, Ages 5-12 $5, under 5 and Seaport members are FREE.

The Seaport has a festival for everyone. We attended their Bluegrass & Barbeque Fest which was a great way to kick off the summer! The weather wasn't the best but we still made the best of it. There was so much to do and see. Outside there was a tent where the band played bluegrass, BBQ & beer stands, and animals. Inside was crafters, vendors, and Todd's Musical Petting Zoo!

The petting zoo was very impressive! I believe the adults had as much fun as the kids. I couldn't believe the variety of instruments available from banjos to harps. Here is JJ playing at the percussion table and having a great time.

Also inside there were different tables. The first table we visited was the Camden Aquarium. They had terrapins, a horseshoe crab, and a starfish. There was also a table of insects from the river water. The woman at the table was finding and showing us the different bugs from the water. While JJ did a craft I went and watched three women weave baskets by hand.

After visiting the zoo we headed outside to see the quails, goats and chickens. It was so much fun outside with the smell of the barbecue and the sound of bluegrass music. There are many other festivals coming up if you would like to visit Tuckerton Seaport...
June 8th- Privateers & Pirates: Pirate history, authentic and make believe. Scavenger hunt, games, crafts, costume contest, crafters, vendors, and boat rides.
June 22nd & 23rd- Bayman's Seafood & Music Festival: Enjoy delicious local seafood. Crafters, vendors, music, food, Tuckahoe Brewing Co., family activities, demonstrations, boat rides, boat builders and decoy carvers.
June 29th- Red Wine & Blues: Uncork some fun and enjoy a perfect evening of wine tasting with NJ's finest wineries, live blues bands and a complimentary wine glass. Bring your beach chairs, sit back, sip and have fun!

Happy Mothers Day from #MonstersU and Me!

2013-05-12T05:41:00.004-04:00

Disclosure: I was provided the following to share with you by Disney.

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook

"Follow" Disney/Pixar on Twitter

Visit the website

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY releases in theaters on June 21st!

"The Big Wedding" DIY Ideas & Giveaway

2013-04-23T01:53:00.000-04:00

Every bride wants her wedding to be unique, and what better way than with some DIY flair. From place cards to centerpieces, favors to thank you notes, DIY tricks are a fun way to get everyone involved in the planning process and add a one-of-a-kind flair to a dream wedding. Even a silly and fun parting gift full of ingredients for the perfect hangover cure—Advil, water, and the perfect Bloody Mary mix—is sure to make your wedding unforgettable.
When we got married 7 years ago I planned almost all of it myself. While most girls dream of a "Big", extravagant day that costs more than most cars, I wanted a beautiful wedding but refused to spend tens of thousands of dollars. I knew that if I put my mind to it I could still have everything we wanted and not spend too much.
Since our wedding was 7 years ago pinterest wasn't around yet, but I still found enough DIYs just searching on google. I did as much as I could myself some of which included bags for my bridesmaids, favors, centerpieces, flowers, and bathroom baskets. I loved how it made the day extraordinary and personal, and now that pinterest exists you can find a countless array of ideas for your big day!

Watch the trailer here.

SYNOPSIS:

With an all-star cast led by Robert DeNiro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, Topher Grace, with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams, THE BIG WEDDING is an uproarious romantic comedy about a charmingly modern family trying to survive a weekend wedding celebration that has the potential to become a full blown family fiasco. To the amusement of their adult children and friends, long divorced couple Don and Ellie Griffin (De Niro and Keaton) are once again forced to play the happy couple for the sake of their adopted son's wedding after his ultra conservative biological mother unexpectedly decides to fly halfway across the world to attend. With all of the wedding guests looking on, the Griffins are hilariously forced to confront their past, present and future - and hopefully avoid killing each other in the process. Screenplay by Justin Zackham. Directed by Justin Zackham.

Official Trailer

Official Facebook

Official Site

We wanted to give you a peek into the bridal tent of Lionsgate's THE BIG WEDDING! Check out this brand new clip that shows just a glimpse of the chaos that occurs with the hilarious Griffin family right before walking down the aisle. With an all-star cast, including Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Topher Grace, Susan Sarandon, Ben Barnes, and Amanda Seyfried – this is one wedding you won't want to miss!

Don't forget to buy your tickets now to BUY ONE GET ONE FREE… movies and weddings are always more fun with a plus one! THE BIG WEDDING opens nationwide April 26, 2013!

Now time for the giveaway! You and a guest could see THE BIG WEDDING in theaters before it is released nationwide! The screening is on April 23rd at 7:30 pm at the Landmark Ritz East. I am giving away 5 pairs of tickets (10 total) to win a set all you need to do is leave a comment with a wedding DIY idea and your email by 2pm. Good Luck and thank you for entering!

Disclosure: see disclosure page above.

New Trailer LONE RANGER

2013-04-19T06:21:00.001-04:00

FiberOne has FOUR new flavored bars!

2013-04-05T12:43:00.000-04:00

Did You Know: 9 out of 10 Americans aren´t getting the recommended amount of fiber each day? Now getting your fiber has never been tastier than with Fiber One's new Trail Mix and Protein bars. Taking care of yourself suddenly sounds like fun!

It all started with the Oats and Chocolate Fiber One bar, but now Fiber One offers several solutions to help you get the fiber you need. There are so many delicious ways to enjoy fiber! Check out their range of products at a Publix near you.

Try all of these delicious Fiber One bars:

Oats & Chocolate - 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, chocolate flavored drizzle & yes some oats
Chewy Trail Mix - 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, raisins, peanuts & cranberries
Caramel Nut Protein - 7g of protein plus 20% of your days´ fiber with caramel and peanuts wrapped in chocolate flavored coating
Coconut Almond Protein - 7g of protein plus 20% of your days´ fiber with coconut and almonds wrapped in a chocolate flavored coating

My hubby has eaten FiberOne Bars for awhile now and was excited to try the new flavors. He said the Coconut Almond was his favorite. The Caramel Nut was my favorite. All four were delicious so we ended up getting all four flavors.

Disclosure:The information, products and gift pack were provided by General Mills and Publix® through MyBlogSpark.

Baskin-Robbins' Spring Chick Cake

2013-03-20T19:47:00.001-04:00

New this year, Baskin-Robbins’ Spring Chick Cake is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any party or celebration. Bright and cheery on the outside and delicious on the inside, the Spring Chick Cake can be customized with your favorite Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavor. The Chick Cake is meant to be shared with 8-12 people with the suggested retail price $26.99.

Also available this spring is the Chick Novelty, a smaller portion of the Chick Cake that’s perfect for a single serving.

What a great way to celebrate the beginning of spring especially if you are like me and live in a location where the weather doesn't realize it's not winter anymore. It would also be great to an Easter dinner!

New The Oz The Great And Powerful video clip

2013-03-07T02:27:00.001-05:00

New Conversation Heart Ice Cream Cakes

2013-02-07T14:34:00.001-05:00

February and Valentine’s Day go hand-in-hand with delicious treats, and to celebrate the season Baskin-Robbins is offering new Conversation Heart Ice Cream Cakes. These bright and colorful cakes made with a small heart-shaped cutter will make a great addition to any stories on sweets and treats you may be working on around Valentine’s Day. Adorned with rainbow sprinkles on the bottom, each cake features one of three Valentine’s Day messages: “Love You,” “Kiss Me,” or “Be Mine,” and serves 2-4 people with a suggested retail price of $14.29. Guests can customize their cakes with their favorite ice cream flavors and a personalized message, which invites unique options like “Marry Me” and “Secret Crush.”
How cute is the marry me idea? We are getting these for the teachers :)

This Holiday Season, Deck The Halls With Baskin-Robbins’ Festive New Ice Cream Cakes

2012-12-22T01:37:00.001-05:00

It’s the holiday season once again and Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, is offering a new lineup of dome-shaped ice cream cakes to brighten up holiday parties this month. Available now at participating Baskin-Robbins locations nationwide, these ho-ho-holiday cakes make for perfect gifts or delectable additions to any holiday party. Guests can customize each cake by choosing their favorite ice cream flavor, including December’s Flavor of the Month, Mint Chocolate Chip, a classic flavor featuring mint-flavored ice cream with semi-sweet chocolate chips.

The eye-catching holiday cakes feature a unique dome shape available from Baskin-Robbins. The fanciful holiday designs include:

· Snowman Cake: Get into the holiday season with this holly jolly snowman cake, made with a layer of cake and any ice cream flavor.
· Santa Cake: Complete your collection with the Santa Cake. This treat will be the life of the party and can serve as the centerpiece for any holiday celebration.
· Elf Cake: For any dessert table in need of a little extra help, the Elf Cake is a delicious addition that can be customized with a layer of cake and any of Baskin-Robbins’ ice cream flavors.

Baskin-Robbins’ Snowman, Santa and Elf cakes each serve 8-12 people and have a suggested retail price of $26.99 during the month of December. For guests looking for a smaller treat, Baskin-Robbins is also offering Snowman and Snow Woman Individual Treats. Guests can pick their favorite Baskin-Robbins flavor and turn it into a snowman almost too cute to eat. The Snowman and Snow Woman Individual Treats are available at participating Baskin-Robbins shops and have a suggested retail price of $2.49.

For a great stocking stuffer, give the gift of ice cream with a Baskin-Robbins gift card. Gift cards can be purchased in any amount between $2 and $100 at participating Baskin-Robbins shops or online at www.BaskinRobbins.com and never expire. Baskin-Robbins offers special holiday cake-themed gift cards on its website. Gift cards can also be personalized online with cherished photos or a customized message, and can be ordered along with a personalized greeting card.

For more information about Baskin-Robbins and its wide range of ice cream flavors and frozen treats, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com or follow on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BaskinRobbins) or
on Twitter (www.twitter.com/BaskinRobbins).

Disclosure: I received a gift card to facilitate this post. I was not required to post.

Happy Holidays from Monsters, INC 3D

2012-12-21T21:08:00.000-05:00

Kimmel's Broadway Series Events

2012-12-21T12:32:00.001-05:00

Looking for a last minute gift? Do you have family in town and would to do something unique while they are here?
If so the Kimmel Center has these options for you...

S'mores Mix my new Chex Mix

2012-12-16T01:58:00.001-05:00

Looking for an easy dish to bring to a holiday party or even to send to school for a class party?
My go to dish s'mores mix can be used as a snack or dessert. The best part is that it's only 3 ingredients! And very simple to make!
What you will need:
Mini marshmallows
Chocolate wafers/chocolate dipping container
Graham cracker crumbs
You can always double, triple, etc
Here's how to make it:
Place marshmallows in a bowl
Melt chocolate and cover the marshmallows with chocolate and stir till they are coated. Finally stir in the graham cracker crumbs.
There you are a great and simple dish. You can also use different colored chocolate to go with every holiday or event.

{Turtle Candies} Made In To Turtle Cookies

2012-12-11T02:19:00.000-05:00

Turtle cookies! Since my husband loves the turtle candies so when I was asked to share my most dunkable, I decided to make it into a cookie here is how it turned out...

They're so easy to make especially with three simple ingredients! Best way to enjoy it is with a nice tall glass of milk. I have enjoyed Lehigh Valley Dairy Farm milk in the new Pure Protect bottle. Lehigh Valley’s commitment to providing the freshest, most deliciously creamy dairy products around! We are Lehigh Valley drinkers for quite awhile now.

Just 3 easy ingredients!

The perfect match to dunk your cookie!

Recipe:

Ingredients:
Package of Double Chocolate mix ( Or make your own chocolate cookie mix.
1/4 cup of caramel bits
1/4 cup of pecan pieces

Directions:
Mix your chocolate cookie mix as directed
Fold in the caramel & pecans
Make 1-2in balls
Place on an un-greased cookie sheet
Cook 8-10 mins if you like chewy cookies only cook until set (center will be soft)

Want to win one of three sets of cookie cutters thanks to Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms then go here.

Disclosure: I was provided a set of the cookie cutters along with a gift card to get the ingredients for the cookie. All opinions are my own.

Shutterfly Holiday Cards

2012-12-04T02:30:00.000-05:00

Shutterfly has a wonderful new collection this year from traditional colors and embellishments to merry and bright colors that take on a modern feel. They also feature religious/scripture based cards (including Hanukkah) and cards that you can showcase your fur babies photos on. Whatever your style is they’re sure to have something you’ll love.

Shutterfly not only offers hundres of different styles to choose from, they also are always offering great specials...

If you are like me than you are just ordering your Photo Christmas Cards. Now I am off to decide which one I like for my family and to check out the photo gifts!

Disclosure: Thus was a sponsored post from Shutterfly.

Costco vs BJ's

2012-12-02T09:13:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to check out the new Costco that opened in Concordville, PA. I wanted to do a trial run of the store to see if it was as great as everyone has claimed it to be. I started by getting gas at the member only gas station at a very cheap $3.34 per gallon. So far, my trip was worth it! Once I entered the store, we enjoyed our shopping experience. My daughter most especially loved the free food samples at the end of every aisle. It was when I checked out that I was able to make my final decision if I was purchasing the $55 yearly membership or not. After the cashier finished my order and I handed over my manufacturers coupons, she informed me that Costco DOES NOT ACCEPT MANUFACTURER'S COUPONS! I truly was in shock as I stood there with about $20 in coupons in my hands. When I asked why, her response was that Costco already has low prices and they offer a warehouse coupon booklet to their members. When I responded that BJ's offers low prices AND warehouse coupon booklets AND accepts manufacturers coupons, her response was a snippy "You can go to customer service and have your membership refunded if you aren't happy."
After my initial shock wore off, I emailed Costco's corporate office looking for an official statement on their coupon policy. Here is their response:

"Dear Angie,

We appreciate you taking the time to email Costco Wholesale.
Costco Wholesale does not accept general manufacturer coupons. We have our own coupons and promotional offers, which are distributed to members in the mail and at our locations at various times throughout the year. We are able to offer consistently low prices because our buyers negotiate the best deals with our vendors. Manufacturers often will simply ‘load’ the cost of a coupon program into the original pricing of their product. We will not permit our vendors or buyers to do this since there is no advantage to the member. Thank you for your continued patronage and please let us know if there is anything else we can help you with.

Thank you,

Costco Wholesale Corporation"

As the CEO of our household, my job is to make sure our house runs like clockwork, part of which includes the financial aspects. With that in mind, I clip and print coupons on a daily basis as well research the best sales and prices. I have to tell you that the prices at Costco were fair but would have been much more competitive if they had accepted manufacturer's coupons. It is a case by case decision for each CEO of the household, but based on the location, coupon policy, membership price, and product prices, this CEO is sticking with BJ's!!!

Winter Indoor Fun thanks to Linvilla Orchards!

2012-12-02T08:41:00.000-05:00

As the weather gets cooler, I'm reminded of how much I love summer. Nothing says summer to me like the beach, boardwalk, mini golf, and ice cream, so when I heard that Linvilla Orchards in Media, PA was opening an 18 hold indoor mini golf course, I was ecstatic! What could be better than finding something educational, healthy, and fun to keep the family busy during these chilly months?

Linvilla's Indoor 18 Hole Mini Golf Course isn't just your run of the mill mini golf course housed indoors. It's an interactive and educational experience created by The Academy of Natural Sciences that boasts a tropical rainforest with different themed holes, including butterflies, bats, dinosaurs, and more. This definitely isn't just one for the kids. Moms and Dads can get it on the action by testing their knowledge on a wide range of interesting facts from the way nature works to how to preserve the environment.

Linvilla's Indoor Golf Course is located at:

Linvilla Orchards Garden Center
137 West Knowlton Road
Media, PA.

It will open December 26th and will remain open until March 17th. (Closed on January 1st)

For the first week, the following hours will apply.

December 26: 9am-5pm
December 27: 9am-5pm
December 28: 9am-8pm
December 29: 9am-8pm
December 30: 9am-5pm
December 31: 9am-1pm
January 1: CLOSED

The following hours apply from January 2nd until March 17th

Sunday through Thursday 9am to 5pm
Friday and Saturday 9am to 7pm

Prices per single games

$6.95 per person (age 11 & over)

$4.95 per person (age 10 & under)

In addition to family outings, the indoor mini golf is available for large groups and birthday parties. Golf parties include pizza and birthday cake! How awesome would that be for a winter birthday child to have a summer activity for their birthday?

Group rates are also available for school field trips, church outings and scout adventures. Each child receives one round of golf , entrance into the playground, a souvenir magnet, and an educational kit. For more information on how to make a reservation for an event, go to www.linvilla.com or call 610-876-7116.

Breakfast with Santa this Saturday

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Looking for some fun with the family this weekend?

Have you heard.....

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.....about a little something called Thirty-One Gifts?? Well, in case you've been living under a rock and haven't had the awesome opportunity of knowing all things Thirty-One, I'll share the goodness with you. Thirty-One has an amazing line of totes, thermals, purses, wallets, and homegoods that can be personalized. Ok, so maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a Thirty-One Gifts consultant, but you know what they say....the best consultants come from the best customers!

Here's a few of the products that are in our current line

So, I thought I'd share the fabulous Black Friday Sale I'm having in just a few days. This is a great opportunity to check out all the great products Thirty-One has to offer (with deep discounts of your choice) and get your holiday shopping started from the comfort of your own home. That's right....no lines, no chaos, no crowds!

Starting at 10 pm on Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving) through Black Friday, you can shop Thirty-One Gifts for discounts and FREE products!!

Here's the schedule:

10pm - 12am (midnight) - 15% off your ENTIRE order!
Midnight - 3:00 am - 10% off your ENTIRE order!
3:01 am - 6:00 am - 5% off your ENTIRE order!
6:01 am - 9:00 am - Spend $31, get a Medium Utility Tote for half off ($2.50)!
9:01 am - 12:00 pm - FREE direct shipping ($4 value)!
12:01 pm - 3:00 pm - NO sales tax!
3:01 pm - 6:00 pm - FREE embroidery on any item ($7 value)!
6:01 pm - 9:00 pm - FREE Timeless Pouches with your $31 purchase!
9:01 pm - 11:59 pm - FREE Rosette Clip with your $31 purchase!

Plus, check out these All Day Specials!!

- For every $31 you spend, you can purchase a Medium Utility Tote for $5
- Book a party (home or online parties count) anytime TODAY and receive an additional $20 gift certificate to be spent at your party!

There are three ways to order:

First check out the catalog on my website at
Angie's Thirty-One Gifts Page

then:

- Call/text me your order at

215.828.7842

If I don't answer, please leave me a message

-Email me your order at

angielovesbags@gmail.com

The time you make the call (voicemails will count if I don't answer) and/or the time you submit the e-mail will determine the time slot special you receive! Please be sure to leave ALL of the following information when you place your order!!
. Your name
. Your phone number
. Your address (and if you want me to ship it directly to you or a gift recipient - extra $4 fee applies)
. How you would like to pay
. Your order - name of item, personalization choices, thread color, font, etc

Angie Taggart
Thirty One Consultant
215.828.7842

angielovesbags@gmail.com
www.mythirtyone.com/angietaggart