Mommygaga

Social Shopping With Sneakpeeq! Win Gift Cards and Love It!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Are you a social shopper? If so, you are in luck! Sneekpeeq is a new online destination for folks like us, featuring hundreds of brands we all know and love at discounted prices!

With Sneakpeeq, you discover the latest trends in apparel, fashion jewelry, home decor, gourmet food, beverages and more... but only at a fraction of the retail price! There are a bunch if great finds on the site daily. Share your favorites with your Facebook friends and earn badges that give you great credits and discounts on the products you love.

What I'm Peeqing At...

Telluride Truffles - A Bale of Turtles Urban Expressions Rio Leather Clutch

It's super easy to get started, just log in with Facebook connect using your current account. No sign ups, passwords, or email addresses to submit - super simple! From there, you can...

Share - items you love with your friends. Note: you will get an immediate $10 credit that you can share with 3 friends, they can get it too! Prices are already nice and low, so the $10 will make it super cheap!
Peeq - when you want to check out the price tag of an item, 'Peeq' at it! Be careful, you only get a certain amount of Peeq's per day, refreshing every 24 hours. I started with 20.
Love - click this when you want to keeptrack of your favorite products
Buy - Love that item? Purchase it instantly via Paypal, voila!

Hop on over to Sneakpeeq and log in to see what they have! There are different boutiques daily. You will get an instant 20% off badge to use on your first purchase, this is on top of the already discounted price. People are really loving the Chic Buds, they are so cute and necessary for all of you MP3 player users!

Thanks to the Sneakpeeq team, there are a few prizes that I am giving away, right here on Mommygaga.com! When you get started with Sneakpeeq, you can enter to win one of three prizes: (1) $25 Gift Card to Sneakpeeq and (2) $10 Gift cards, that's 3 winners folks! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below, contest ends February 3, 2012. Good Luck!

Note: If you are viewing this from a feed reader, you must visit the blog post to see the rafflecopter form :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: I received compensation for this post, all opinions are my own. Prize fulfillment will be handled by the sponsor.

Enfamil Infant Formula $5 Off Printable Coupon - HOT, Hurry!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:00 +0000

UPDATE 1/27: There is a current $5 off any size Enfamil Baby Formula Coupon available. Print it twice and purchase 2 of the smaller cans to get a great deal!

I am hearing reports that Walmart has the small 8 oz. can priced at under $5, so that's free formula BABY!

GONE: There is a HOT ~~Enfamil $10 off coupon~~ available to print asap! It is valid on 22 oz. or larger tubs, so if you are an Enfamil baby formula user, jump on it! Hit your back button to print the coupons twice.

~~Print the Enfamil $10 off coupon HERE~~

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Deal on Evenflo Baby Strollers - Up to 50% Off at Zulily

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:41:00 +0000

If you are in the market for a stroller, jump on this one! Zulily has Evenflo strollers marked down to 45% off, a great deal for a quality brand. Plus, for a limited time you can get an additional $5 off with an exclusive coupon code! Here's the deal scenario:

Evenflo Pinebrook EuroTrek Stroller
$69.99 (Originally $130.00)
$5 off using Zulily coupon code GA5687
Total Price = $64.99, or 50% off!

Sign in to your account to access this sale. If you are not currently signed up with Zulily, you can do so for free and check out all of the deals they have for babies and kids.

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Gymboree 2012 Swim Shop Collection - The Cutest Styles for Spring and Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

I have been a lover of Gymboree since I had MJ in 2007, but the addiction has gotten a bit worse since I had a girl! The cute little dresses and outfits with matching shoes, accessories... I CAN'T TAKE IT!

Gymboree has just introduced their newest 2012 Swim Shop Collection, I am loving the sets they have for baby girls! CUTENESS! Here is a preview of what they have, most of it is available online and in stores now...

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Sparkling ICE: My Family Loves This Beverage! Win Some!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:56:00 +0000

Move over sugary sodas and juices! Myself, my son and husband have approved another delicious alternative to water and milk that does not have all of the extra sugar and calories... Sparkling ICE!

Sparkling ICE is a refreshing, healthier beverage choice that has zero calories, essential vitamins and antioxidants. It is a very light drink sort of similar to sparkling water but with yummy flavor! Face it, ice cold water is the best for you, but who wants to drink only that? I think Sparkling ICE is the perfect choice for families that have young children, adults who are watching their caloric intake, and anyone who is on a gluten free diet.

Flavors include coconut pineapple, orange mango, lemonade, pink grapefruit, kiwi strawberry, black raspberry, and more. We got to try each one, MJ and my hubs liked the kiwi strawberry flavor the best. The Black Raspberry flavor was my favorite, I am going to have to get me hands on some more so I can try this recipe:

The Sparkling ICE Flavor Line Up

Sparkling ICE Black Raspberry Smoothie

1 container (6 oz) 99% Fat Free French vanilla yogurt
½ cup Black Raspberry Sparkling ICE
1 cup soymilk or almond milk
1 cup unsweetened frozen or fresh raspberries
1 medium banana

*Add a few ice cubes if you don’t use frozen raspberries
Place ingredients in blender or food processor. Cover; blend on high speed about 30 seconds or until smooth.

Purchase Sparkling ICE at your local grocery store, mass retailer or even on Amazon! It is a great alternative to all of the sugary drinks out there, and they are pretty affordable at around $1 each. Next time you are at the store, try ONE. You'll be hooked! Locations.

Thanks to Sparkling ICE, one lucky Mommygaga reader will win a case of assorted Sparkling ICE beverages! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below, contest ends February 6, 2012. Good Luck!

Note: If you are viewing this from a feed reader, you must visit the blog post to see the rafflecopter form :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: I received samples of Sparkling ICE to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own, prize fulfillment will be handled by the sponsor.

2012 Giveaway Winners - Mommygaga.com

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

Are you a winner? Since we have so many giveaways going on around here, I decided that I would do a rolling post and update it as each giveaway closes. Be sure to check back and see if your name is listed!

January
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control Products - #93, Robin Q
Artistry Skin Care Set - #45, Julie B
FunBites Food Shape Cutters - #143, Lisa Li
Butt Bench Bath Tub Seat - #164, Betty B
Vicks Nature Fusion Prize pack - #107, Shilo
VTech V.Reader for Kids - #399, Jennifer M
$100 Cash HOTFLASH Giveaway - TBA

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Totsy Coupon Code - Get $10 Off Deals for Kids, Baby and More

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:30:00 +0000

New to Totsy? If so, you will find amazing deals for kids, baby, mom and more UP TO 90% Off!

There is a Totsy Coupon Code available for those who have not yet made a purchase. Save $10 off of $50 with coupon code TRYTOTSY.

Deals Right Now:

BabyLegs Leg Warmers - 57% off

Manhattan Infant Toys - 58% off

Bum Cheeks Minky Cloth Diapers - 43% off

Tivoli Couture Strollers - 37% off

CHECK OUT THE DEALS ON TOTSY NOW

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An Ode to Single Parents

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:43:00 +0000

I have no idea how you single parents do it.

I am married to a loving and supportive husband, we have 2 kids and a live-in mother in law, yet I still find it HARD AS HECK to keep up with life as we know it! Between work, cooking, cleaning, blogging, quality time with family, and ME time (a rarity), I find myself super exhausted.

I cannot imagine how tough it must be. You are on your own, financially and emotionally. I am sure I could handle it, but I just might go a little crazy!

A friend of mine is a single parent, she has been so for years and she's got it down! She has 2 daughters and is extremely well versed in her routine. Although she doesn't get much time to herself, she definitely is doing well in life. I admire her, I try to take her out, help with babysitting a bit, and hang with her family. I want her to get out, meet someone, be happy. Single parent dating is hard enough as it seems. How are you supposed to find the time to get out and about? Where are you supposed to meet someone, especially when you are no longer in social settings as much as before? I suppose online dating sites might help.

So here's to you, single moms and dads, you are really doing a fantastic job. Take this as encouragement to continue on and keep doing what you do. Raise those kids to the best of your ability. Ask for help from family and friends if you need it. But most of all, enjoy your kiddos and be happy!

If you know any single moms or dads, give them a shout out!

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Disclosure: This post was inspired by JustSingleParents.com, I was compensated to give my opinion in my own way.

Printable Coupons For Super Bowl Party - Hormel, Totino's, Oscar Mayer, Florida's Natural, Dean's Dip, More

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:28:00 +0000

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!!

Here comes the Super Bowl! We are big football fans in our household, so you know we're kicking it up a notch for Super Bowl Sunday! If you are having or attending a Super Bowl Party, use these coupons to save on your dish...

I am making this BLT Guacamole Recipe, so good!

Foods, Condiments and Appetizers

$1.50 off two PLANTERS Peanut Butter

$0.30 off FRENCH'S Spicy Brown Mustard

$0.75 off FRENCH'S Dijon Mustard

75¢ off when you buy any ONE Dean's® Heat 'n Eat Dip

$0.50 off three Zatarain's Rice or Pasta Mixes

$3.00 off HORMEL Party Tray product

$0.55 off two HORMEL Bacon Bits products

$1.00 off two (2) packages of ARMOUR Pepperoni

$1.00 off TWO OSCAR MAYER CARVING BOARD

40¢ off when you buy TWO PACKAGES any flavor/variety Totino's® Rolls Snacks

Beverages

$0.55 off Florida's Natural Ruby Red Juice

$1.00 off ONE 6-pack Snapple Tea

$1.85 off when you buy any THREE NESTLÉ® COFFEE-MATE® Liquid Flavored or Original creamers, 16oz or larger

$1.10 off when you buy any TWO COFFEE-MATE® NATURAL BLISS™ coffee creamers

$1.50 off when you buy any TWO NESCAFÉ® TASTER'S CHOICE® 20ct or 22ct Sticks Packs, 7oz or larger canisters, or NESCAFÉ® CLASICO™

$2.00 off when you buy any TWO GoodBelly® Quarts

$1.00 off of One Silk Soymilk

99¢ off of One Coca Cola Zero, Facebook

Smartsource has Ritz crackers, Chex Mix and other coupons you might need, too!

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BLT Guacamole Recipe - I Love Avocados!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:00:00 +0000

This post brought to you by Avocados from Mexico. All opinions are 100% mine.

Avocado. I put it on almost everything. Eggs at breakfast, a tasty club sandwich, salads and taco nights are all 500 times better with that good ol' green creamy AVOCADO! My husband actually talks about me and says that i'll put avocado on anything. This is partially true.

I came up on an accidental guacamole recipe when I was making a breakfast scramble one morning. Baby Girl was only 6 months old, no teeth, and she hadn't eaten eggs yet. In an effort to figure out some healthy, home made baby food for her, I took some of the turkey bacon, tomatoes, spinach, and avocado that I was using for the scramble. I diced it all up and what resulted was a green, somewhat chunky mixture. Why didn't I think of bacon in a guacamole recipe before? I tried it and LOVED IT! From there the recipe for BLT guac was born!

BLT Guacamole Recipe
4 Ripe Avocados from Mexico
6 Strips of Bacon, Cooked Crisp, Crumbled
1/2 Medium Onion, Diced
1 Large Tomato, Diced
1/2 Cup of Cilantro, Chopped
1 Tbsp. Fresh Lime Juice
Salt, Pepper and Cumin, to taste

Scoop the flesh out of the inside of the avocados and place them into a large mixing bowl. Mash them nicely until they are mushed up yet have a bit of chunk to them. Add most of the crumbled bacon, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and seasonings and mix them up nicely. Be sure to set aside about a strips worth of bacon to use as garnish.
Squeeze in a bit of lime juice, stir and give it a taste test. Season as desired and stir gently each time you add ingredients. Once the guacamole is finished and to your liking, transfer to a serving dish and garnish with the remaining crumbled bacon.

Stay updated with Avocados from Mexico and LIKE I love avocados on Facebook for recipes, coupons, avocado ideas and more fun events. I shared an 'Authentic Guacamole' with my Facebook friends, you can also share your love of avocados on Facebook and when you follow @guacgrl and tweet with hashtag #iloveavocados.

Quick #HOTFLASH Giveaway: Win $100 CA$H!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Who wants to win $100 CA$H? It's up for grabs...

As a thank you to our loyal readers, a few blogs have teamed up to offer a $100 cash prize to one lucky winner! This is a HOTFLASH Giveaway that starts now and goes through 12:01am EST. You have 7 hours to enter, so hurry up and get moving down there to that Rafflecopter form!

Here's how to enter:

Complete the mandatory entry field by clicking the green "DO IT" button and 'Like' each Facebook page. Don't worry, the form makes it so that it will literally take a minute. So easy!
Feel free to do any of the optional entries, if you really want to up the odds, you can do them once they appear after the mandatory entries are completed.
Winner chooses a $100 Paypal, Amex or Amazon gift card. Open worldwide to valid email addresses, the winner will be chosen and announced about 24 - 48 hours after the giveaway ends.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: The prize offered is sponsored by all of the participating bloggers mentioned on the giveaway form. Thanks to Deals4Dummies for organizing and hosting this giveaway!

Cute Owl Cupcake Toppers Tutorial {Photos}

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0000

I am getting all of my ducks in a row for Baby Girl's first birthday and decided to make cupcake toppers to go with the decor of her party. I am not the craftiest person around, so I am tooting my own horn a bit when I say that they turned out SO CUTE!

Cupcake toppers are actually easy to make, they involve paper, sticks, glue, and whatever decorations, stickers and embellishments you desire. I kept mine simple using the pink owl from her invitation, a picture of Baby Girl's face and the number '1'. Check me out...

How To Make Cupcake Toppers

What You'll Need:

Assorted Colored Card Stock Paper
Lollipop or Small Craft Sticks
Various Decor, Stickers, Embellishments
Circle Cutter (or something circular to trace)
Glue Stick
Glue Gun
Regular Scissors
Wavy Edge Scissors

Browse Pre-Made Character Cupcake Toppers on Amazon

Based upon your design, you will choose the paper colors and decorative embellishments to your liking. Everything can be purchased at your local craft store. I printed out a few small pictures of my daughter, owls, and 1's as the center of my cupcake toppers. I do not have a circle cutter, so I used a lid from my hair mousse and a play-doh container to get the round circle sizes I wanted. I cut around the pictures first using the regular scissors with the smaller circle lid, then glued them onto larger white circles with the glue stick for a nice bright backing. If I had more time, I would have gotten some pink rhinestones and glued them around the white circle outline.

Next, grab the wavy edge scissors and cut around the colored card stock paper holding the decorative circle you just glued in the middle as a guide. I cut about 1/2 inch around the whole thing. Once you cut all of your colored backings, fire up the glue gun!

Once it's nice and hot, grab the glue gun and start gluing on the sticks. I put them about half way up the middle of the backing. Be careful, the glue tends to set fast so be sure that you position the stick how you want it, check the front to be sure that your design is upright and adjust as necessary. Let the toppers dry overnight and they are ready to stick into your cupcakes! The finished product came out adorable! They ended up being about 2 inches in diameter, you can make yours larger or smaller as you please.

Owl Cupcake Toppers

Once I use these at Baby Girl's party, I will update this post with a photo of these toppers in action on the cupcakes! Can't wait!

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Tags: personalized cupcake toppers, cupcake creations, baby shower cupcake toppers, girls first birthday ideas, wedding cupcake toppers, make cupcake toppers, cupcake topper

Marvelous Monday Blog Giveaway Linky - Enter Yours and WIN! [1/23]

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:26:00 +0000

Hello and welcome! It's Marvelous Monday here at Mommygaga, time to enter some great sweepstakes and blog giveaways here and on other blogs. If you are running a giveaway on your site, link yours up and spread the word with our weekly giveaway linky. Here are a couple featured giveaways you simply can't miss:

$100 Cash #HOTFLASH Giveaway 1/23

VTech V.Reader Interactive e-Reader for Kids 1/25

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Encouraging Imagination and Creativity in Your Child

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

I am a huge advocate of early education. Lately I have heard so much emphasis on the small window of opportunity during the first 5 years of a childs life. According to studies from Child Welfare Information Gateway, 90% of the brain develops by age 3, so it is only natural that most of life's fundamentals are grasped early on. It is the most critical time for learning language, logic, fine motor skills and helping children with how they think, feel and behave throughout life. I have a very creative 4 year old who constantly needs stimulation to develop his imaginative ways. I have been reading to him since the day he was born [people thought I was crazy to read to an infant]. Everything we do together becomes an exciting adventure, while MJ is learning along the way.

Here are a bunch of fun things I do with MJ to stimulate his mind:

Offering Fun Examples: A good way to spark a childs imagination is to show them how it's done! We read a lot of fun books with colorful pictures and many different kinds of animals, vehicles, and other objects. I make up fun stories that go along with each page of the book and make the sounds that correspond with each thing we read about ['roar' for a lion, 'vroom' for a car, etc]. Then we become the story! We crawl slowly like elephants, or bark loudly like dogs. Sometimes I ask him to continue the story at the end of the book, it comes out hilarious!

Mr. Fix-It

Playing Pretend: MJ kinda started doing this on his own. When he was about 18 months, he would pretend like he was cooking whenever I was in the kitchen. His specialty was scrambled eggs, so he would get a bowl and a spoon and mix the eggs like mommy. It was the cutest thing, he cooks with me for real now! Now he likes to pretend to fix things around the house with daddy and build forts in our living room and on our bed with blankets and pillows. He calls it his 'mountain' and thinks it is the funniest thing when daddy or his baby sister come and knocks it down.

Listen and Interact: When MJ talks, I listen and talk back. I know so many parents who ignore their children, passing off their early toddler speech as jibberish. If I can understand one word that my son is saying, I act upon it and elaborate with him. Sometimes we sing songs and recite rhymes and I pause at certain parts and have him fill in the blanks. Now that he's older, he speaks very clear, concise, and we use new words with him and correct him all of the time. If MJ draws a picture and I can't tell what it is, I ask him to explain it and identify what he's drawn, what colors he used, etc.

Please take the time to talk to your children. Explain things, no matter how simple they may sound to you. Use correct speech and pronunciation, and correct them if they mispronounce a word. Set aside 5 minutes just before bedtime to read a short story. It really makes a difference in the development of your childs imagination. Best of all, its FUN!

Great indoor activity for kids: have a pretend camp out!

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Gerber Baby Coupons - Save on Onesies, Sleepers and Bedding

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:56:00 +0000

I love the Gerber Brand, their clothing basics have been essentials for both of my kids in their baby stages. They have a couple of coupons available for Gerber Childrenswear, sign up to print out the following...

Gerber Childrenswear Coupons:
- $2.50 off any 2 Gerber Brand Onesies® Products
- $10 any Gerber Apparel or Bedding Purchase ($50+)
- $2.00 off any 2 Gerber Brand blanket sleepers, cotton pj's or thermal pj's

Target Gerber Coupon:
- $1 off of any Gerber Onesies 2 pk or larger

Note: At Target, use the $2.50 off of 2 Onesies coupon and stack with 2 of the $1 off Gerber Onesies 2pk or larger Target coupon to save more. If you find any of these on clearance, you'll get a great deal.

Print more Baby Coupons at Coupons.com!

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Cake Pop Tips - How To Make Cake Pops, Brownie Pops and Cake Balls

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:44:00 +0000

Making cake pops? Maybe cake balls or brownie pops? If so, there are a bunch of different ways you can make the process go a little smoother. Cake Pops have become all the rage lately, I love them! Check out a basic cake pops recipe, tips on how to make cake pops and some cool cake pop ideas.

Here is a (very) general cake pop recipe:

Ingredients:
- Cake (boxed or baked from scratch, your call)
- Frosting
- Chocolate
- Sticks
- Sprinkles (optional)

You'll bake the cake and let it cool. Break it up into a bowl and add frosting. This is what makes the cake balls stick together. Pop in the sticks, coat with melted chocolate, decorate and refrigerate. Sounds easy right? Not so much! The balls tend to fall apart. The sticks fall out of place. The chocolate gets too hard to dip. This is why you might need these...

Cake Pop Tips:

After trying out a few batches of my own (I sucked up until batch #3), I can offer the following tips that saved my ~~life~~ cake pops! Try them out...

After you roll your cake balls, refrigerate them to let them set. This is good to do BEFORE dipping in chocolate, the cool cake balls will allow the chocolate to stick better and cool faster.
Are you making brownie pops? If so, choose a fudgy mix and let them cool overnight. They should not need any frosting, my brownie balls stuck together just fine.
Dip the tip of your stick in the chocolate before pushing it into the cake ball. This will allow it to stick in there a little better.
Don't roll your cake pops too big, if you do they will be too heavy and fall off of the stick.
If you are making cake balls (cake pops without the stick), dip them with a toothpick instead of the big stick. Sit them on a wax lined tray and refrigerate them immediately.
If your cake pops crack a little bit, drizzle in a little melted chocolate to hold it together.
Do not use white chocolate. It thoroughly sucks! Use candy melts instead.
Shake on your sprinkles or other decorations before the chocolate cools, they'll stick on better that way.
You can make a simple cake pop holder using styrofoam. Take a plain piece and stick the cake pops into it while they dry, or decorate it with wrapping paper and use it as a stand for them.
Do not over heat the chocolate. Whether you are melting it in the microwave or in a double broiler, it will thicken and you won't be able to dip your cake pops. Add a little butter or shortening to smooth out the chocolate. Also, keep it away from water or it gets grainy and un-dipable (I just made up a word!).
Drizzle on melted chocolate in different colors to make a cute design. Candy melts work great for this (craft stores carry them), they come in a bunch of different colors. Too cute!

Cute Cake Pop Ideas

Lolli Cake Pops

Conversation Heart Cake Pops for Valentine's Day

Noah's Ark Animal Cake Pops

Baby 'It's A Girl' Cake Pops

Christmas Cake Pops - Trees, Snowman, Santa Hats, Gifts

Easter Egg Cake Pops

Halloween Pumpkin, Mummy, Ghost, Monster Cake Pops

Character Cake Pops - Sesame Street, Angry Birds, Winnie The Pooh, Minnie Mouse, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Muppets

Here's a complete cake pop recipe with step-by-step instructions and photos, it's well done. Do you have any other cake pop ideas? Share them with us all in the comments!

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Fast Food Facts: Why I Do Not Feed My Kids Fast Food

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:16:00 +0000

I admit it. I have stopped for fast food on occasion. When we're on the road or out of town, I have picked up a quick bite for myself and for the kids. It was easy, affordable and available. I wasn't happy about it.

Fast foods are just that. Fast. And cheap. So the following should not be a surprise...

Say hello to the ever-popular processed chicken nuggets we all know and love from fast food restaurants nationwide. There is not only one culprit, most if not all fast food chains use the following process to mechanically separate their meats to make beef patties, chicken nuggets, and other frozen meats.

From Fooducate

Here's how it works:

The animals parts, organs, eyes, guts, muscles, ligaments and all, are passed through a machine, a high pressure sieve to get the most meat off of the bone as possible. It is all compressed and forms a paste, just like to one you see above. Since it is mechanically separated, no human is physically taking out the aforementioned body parts so I am sure traces of them end up in your dinner. YUM.

The paste then becomes the main ingredient in many fast food nuggets, meat patties, hot dogs, bologna, jerky, salami, etc. It is full of bacteria so it must be treated in an ammonia substance to kill it all. Once it's ready, it is dyed with the whitish color to look like chicken again (or whatever they are creating) and loaded with artificial flavors to make this crap edible!

There you have it, folks. The next time you are on your way to grab a quick bite from your local fast food chain, DON'T. If there is no other choice, opt for the salad.

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Sesame Street's "I'm Elmo and I Know It" Video for Kids - LMFAO Parody - LOVE THIS!

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:13:00 +0000

Please enjoy this clip of "I'm Elmo and I Know It", a parody of LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" song. I caught MJ singing the regular version the other day and I had to quickly shut him down and tell him not to sing it! This one he can surely watch and sing out loud. So cute!

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Women and Body Image: Loving The Skin Your In, Flaws and All

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:27:00 +0000

Are you happy with the skin you're in?

Generally, body image in women is a collective disaster. So many women have their standards set way too high for themselves and constantly compare, contrast, poke and prod. The media doesn't help much either. The images of women too skinny to breathe are what people are seeing as 'beautiful' and 'normal', so if you have the slightest curve, fold, or wrinkle, you must be the one who's horribly off, right?

WRONG.

It is so important that we develop a sense of positive body image, and early on. People come in all different shapes, sizes, heights and weights. I was completely appalled when I read about the plastic surgery gift voucher that a 7 year old little girl received for Christmas. Wonderful. She now knows that she is not good enough just the way she is and her expectations and ideas of beauty will most likely fail her throughout life.

I must admit that I, too, feel the pressure. It's hard! Although I am comfortable with my body shape and size, there are still things I wish I could change about myself. I want boobs. I have always been an A cup. Also, a tummy tuck would be nice, and if I could wave a magic wand, click my heels and snap twice, my stretch marks could magically disappear. Welp, not happening. Glad I have learned to love myself.

MOMS: Please teach your daughters to have a positive body image. It's hard to compete with the stick-figure-skinny stigma, so we should let our girls know that they are perfect the way they are, inside and out. For us, I believe that as long as you do your best, eat healthy and stay active, you should be fine. Do what makes you happy and healthy. If it makes you feel better, do some cardio, squats, and sit ups, or grab an ab belt and tighten those abs. No matter what you do or how you look, you'll always be you. Work with what you are blessed with, you are beautiful the way you are :)

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Disclosure: This personal insight brought to you by Abbelts.com. All opinions are my own.

Interactive Reading Games for Kids - VTech V.Reader Review and Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:34:00 +0000

Move over, tablets! Preschoolers just got their own cool educational version with touch screen, vivid graphics, music and video capabilities all in one. HA, take that!

MJ got the chance to check out Vtech's V.Reader, a very cool, interactive e-reader made specifically for children 3-7 years of age. It is a revolutionary reading system that helps kids learn to read and actually enjoy it! The V.Reader features story teller learning and comes with a touch screen, which allows for interaction while they read, write and play games that enhance core reading and writing skills. My son is always wanting to play games on the computer and on my tablet, so I feel much better knowing that he can do so on his OWN personal tablet and learn at the same time!

The V.Reader has been around for a while, but it has been enhanced with some nice new features. It is now equipped with updated software, has an increased internal memory and comes with brand-new multimedia features, including photo and video viewing. Furthermore, the V.Reader’s new art and writing programs allow kids to practice their drawing and letter-writing capabilities on the color touch screen.

The preschool age is the prime time to start to learn to read. V.Reader provides the necessary building blocks for kids to grow from a pre-reader into a fluent reader as they learn reading comprehension, vocabulary, phonics, word-building and definitions that are easy to comprehend. Your new reader will love to learn and actually pay attention with fun story downloads of their favorite characters, including Toy Story, Cars, Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and more! Download new childrens books at any time within the Learning Lodge Navigator. Hook it up to your computer with the provided USB cables and get them instantly.

My favorite features:

My son is 4 and he's practicing his handwriting. I like the fact that you can build words, read them and trace them with the stylus at the same time. It shows the proper way to write each letter in a word, then reads the word aloud.

They have the best stories for kids! When each story is narrated, the words are highlighted and go along with the animation. This way, kids can follow along with the story, learn the spelling and pronunciation of certain words and increase their vocabulary as well.

Some kids feel like reading is such a task. Learning anything new tends to be a challenge, so the V.Reader makes it enjoyable and kids really want to turn it on!

Stop by Vtech's site for more information on the V.Reader. It is a great tool that can help young children with their reading skills early on. Thanks to the nice Vtech crew, one lucky Mommygaga reader will win a Vtech V.Reader of their very own! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below, contest ends January 25, 2012. Good Luck!

Note: If you are viewing this from a feed reader, you must visit the blog post to see the rafflecopter form :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: I received a V.Reader to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Prize fulfillment will be handled by the sponsor.

Working It Out With Baby: Jogging Stroller Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:02:00 +0000

If you are in the market for jogging strollers, check out the deals I have for you on Amazon today! Do not sacrifice your workout, you can still take your little ones with you in their special running stroller. These baby's are usually expensive, so grab these prices while they are hot!

Jeep Overland Limited Jogging Stroller with Front Fixed Wheel, Fierce

List Price:	$239.99
Price:	$151.59 Free Super Saving Shipping & Free Returns
You Save:	$88.40 (37%)

Jeep Liberty Limited Urban Terrain Stroller, Spark

List Price:	$179.99
Price:	$135.28 Free Super Saving Shipping & Free Returns
You Save:	$44.71 (25%)

InStep Jogging Stroller Run Around 2 Double

List Price:	$199.99
Price:	$120.74 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
You Save:	$79.25 (40%)

Joovy Zoom360 Swivel Wheel Jogging Stroller Red

List Price:	$269.99
Price:	$199.99 Free Super Saving Shipping & Free Returns
You Save:	$70.00 (26%)

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Originally posted on The Mommy Deals

Brita Water Pitcher and Filter Printable Coupons

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:36:00 +0000

UPDATE 1/16/2012: $10 Mail In Rebate for a Brita Water Filtration System. Includes pour through pitcher and sink mount faucet. Exp 3/31/2012.

Grab great deals on Brita Pitchers and Filters, up to 40% off on Amazon!

UPDATE 8/22/11: 2 Brita Printable Coupons | $4 Off Pitcher, Faucet Mount and $1 Off Brita Bottle System

Got a Brita water pitcher or kitchen faucet mount already? Use this one:

$2 off of Brita filters: Sign up for Brita's automatic filter change reminders HERE to print a $2 off coupon. This is good on the pitcher filters as well as the kitchen faucet mount filters. Printed twice for me, hit your back button till you get to the print page. If you need more than 2, sign up under your hubby or friends name, with their permission, of course!

UPDATE 12/6: ~~Brita Water Filter Pitcher Mail In Rebate: Buy One, Get One Free~~
~~Buy any Eligible Brita® pitcher, the Bella, Grand (Orange and Pink) and Space Saver (Blue, Green and White) and get the second for free. Valid through 2/28/2011.~~

$5 off of Brita Looking to buy a Brita water pitcher or faucet mount? Sign up and take the online pledge to reduce your bottled water consumption at FilterforGood.com to receive a $5 off printable coupon.

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New Printable Coupons: Hormel, Glade, Smucker's, Colgate, Nivea and More

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:31:00 +0000

There are a bunch of great new printable coupons available on Coupons.com. I am very excited about the newest coupons, I love when they have printable coupons for meat! I am going grocery shopping today and these coupons are definitely coming with me.

While you're at it, check to see if you can print these baby coupons

You can click the link to each coupon to find it quickly or PRINT THEM ALL HERE...

Printable Coupons for Food:
$1.50 off two PLANTERS Peanut Butter
$0.50 off one Newman's Own Salsa

$0.50 off ONE MARIE CALLENDER'S FRUIT PIE

$1.00 off TWO Great Grains cereals

$0.55 off 2 HORMEL Chili products
$0.55 off 2 HORMEL Premium Chicken Breasts
$2.00 off LLOYD'S Barbeque Ribs

$0.55 off two HORMEL Pepperoni packages

$3.00 off HORMEL Party Tray product

$0.55 off two HORMEL Bacon Bits products

$0.30 off 4 oz. or larger HARIBO product

Health and Personal Care Coupons:
$1.00 off (1) 4-oz. Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief

$2.00 off 1 NIVEA FOR MEN Face Care Product

$3.00 off 2 John Frieda Sheer Blonde

Printable Household Coupons
$5.00 off one Weight Watchers Scale by Conair™

$0.55 off Glade Premium Room Spray (9.7-oz)

$2.00 off Glade PlugIns Scented Oil refills

$3.00 off Glade PlugIns Lasting Impressions

$1.00 off any Glade Scented Oil Candle holder

$2.00 off Glade Expressions™ Oil Diffuser

$1.00 off Glade Expressions™ Fragrance Mist

$1.00 off any Glade Fabric & Air Odor Eliminator

$1.50 off on any TWO Glade 4-oz. Jar Candles

$1.50 off TWO Glade Scented Oil Candle refills

$0.55 off Glade Carpet & Room Odor Eliminator

$3.50 off Glade Sense & Spray starter kit

$1.00 off on any Glade Automatic Spray refill

$1.00 off on any Glade Press & Spray™ starter kit

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Marvelous Monday Blog Giveaway Linky - Enter Yours and WIN! [1/16]

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:47:00 +0000

Butt Bench Shower/Bath Tub Seat 1/20

Vicks Nature Fusion Prize Pack 1/22

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Vicks Nature Fusion Cold Symptom Relief Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Deanna - Mommygaga) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:03:00 +0000

Recently, I shared a few tips to help your kids feel better when they are sick, where Vicks Nature Fusion products were mentioned as an over the counter medicine option to help with symptom relief. I was all for trying out the cough syrup, I like the fact that there are less artificial ingredients in the Nature Fusion line and that they are flavored with real honey. There are day time and night time relief options that come in caplet and syrup form.

New Vicks® Nature Fusion™ products provide powerful, gluten-free cold symptom relief. Plus, they use real honey instead of dyes and artificial flavors. So that you can feel better about the medicine you take to feel better.

Although I am not currently sick, I wanted to try out Vicks Nature Fusion products. Runny noses, fevers, sore throats and other pesky cold symptoms are no fun when you are sick, so I do look to medications to help with the symptoms. I was pleasantly surprised with the cough syrup, it was nice and thick and had a sweet honey taste. I personally hate the after taste of cough syrups, you can taste the dye. Although I tried just a small amount, I did not sense that with the cough syrup. I will be keeping this on hand for myself and MJ in case we need it, it is flu season!

The Vicks® Nature Fusion™ line of products are dye free, sugar free, gluten free will go over well in many households where these additives are an issue. Who really wants to ingest artificial crap while they are sick anyway? Not me! Available in stores nationwide, and online at various retailers, including Amazon.

The Vicks team has offered to give away a Vicks Nature Fusion Product Prize Package to one lucky reader, which includes a cute basket full of the product! Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below, contest ends January 22, 2012. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: P&G sent over a few of the Vicks Nature Fusion products for my family to try out. All opinions are my own, prize fulfillment will be handled by the sponsor.