mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

Family room turned day care

2013-05-16T22:49:49-05:00

Do you ever just look around your house and wonder, "Where did all this crap-ola come from?"! That's what I've been doing a lot of lately. Don't get me wrong - I do love having all of the fun baby gear that help make my life as a busy mom easier, but DANG if the sight of my family room doesn't make me cringe and feel so cluttered!

Just shy of 6 short weeks of having our sweet Andrew in our lives and we've got nearly half a dozen baby "things" that take up valuable real estate in our family room - where we spend tons of time. By the time you add the bassinet, swing, activity mat, bounce chair, etc. into the mix, it starts to feel just a tad bit like a day care. I say this to my husband at least daily. Sigh.

I know the time will come where I will long for the days of all the cluttery things that my growing family has accumulated, but for now I just wish it didn't make me crazy! Ah, the joys of motherhood.

How do you cope with all the kid gear and toys that seem to accumulate in your home?

{review + giveaway} | Microsoft Store #GoMicrosoft

2013-05-13T21:15:00-05:00

{Disclosure: The following is a sponsored post in collaboration with The Motherhood & Microsoft Stores. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. No one is the boss of me!}

If you're a tech-junkie like I am, you have GOT to take a little field trip to one of the 30+ Microsoft retail stores featuring tons of fun gadgets that the whole family will enjoy taking a peek at!

Recently, I visited my local Microsoft store along with three of my little Minecraft-loving boys. Ok, well, I guess you can't really say the 5 week-old is a Minecraft lover -- yet! Although it was my first visit to the store, I have to say that it's definitely not the first time I'd noticed it. One of the things I love about it is how bright, clean, open, and inviting the store is. It's a place that always looks like it's got something fun going on and had I realized it was so family-friendly before, I would have definitely taken the kids sooner.

Of course my 9 year-old easily navigated his way around the Surface tablet in order to find the games.

Before our visit, I had never put my hands on a Surface tablet, but I gotta tell ya, I'd do it again in a heartbeat! They're sooooo friggin' cool! And, while talking with one of the friendly Microsoft associates, I learned that right now they are running a graduation discount special -- simply present a valid student ID and receive a 10% discount off Surface tablets. How awesome is that? I am telling you, this makes THE perfect gift for the graduate in your life.

Ok, and speaking of Microsoft store associates, I really appreciate the helpful and friendly attitudes that seem to be ingrained in the Microsoft culture.

I could have spent all day there perusing all of the different products in the store. And, being a Sony girl, this little toy definitely caught my eye:

I think someone knows what she already wants for Christmas! It's the Sony Duo II -- offering the power of a Sony Vaio in a HD laptop and tablet all in one. Yes, please!

Hands down, one of the coolest things about the Microsoft stores is actually not a product at all. Did you know that their 35 full-line retail stores feature a semi-private theater / community room in the back of the store in which they host a slew of workshops, classes, parties, and camps? And, all of these events are FREE! Yep, in fact I've already registered my kids to attend a week-long summer camp where they'll learn more about video game design. They are beyond excited about it and have asked me about the camp every. single. day. since I first told them about it. {Oops!}

You can visit your local store for events of all kinds – for kids, for business, for games, and for the community. Microsoft also loves to partner with community organizations to create events customized to fit your needs.

Here's a sneak peek of some of the kinds of events you'll find at your local Microsoft full-line retail store:

• Youth Spark Summer Camps
o Begin June 3
o For kids ages 8-13
o Monday-Friday, 2 hours a day
o Different topics every day: Digital Movie Madness, Digital Art Smart,
Gamemasters, Storyteller Studio and more!
o Some stores may offer a camp for kids ages 15-18: App Builder Class

• Tech Tots Camp
o Extremely interactive experience for kids ages 2-5
o Parent stays while the child learns things like keyboard skills, using Kinect
and embracing technology in other ways

• Gaming Events
o As the creators of Xbox 360 + Kinect, we host some pretty awesome
gaming events
o Launch parties for some of the year's biggest releases or
our ongoing Gamer Leagues

AAAAND, if that's not enough, your kiddo can even host their very own birthday party at the Microsoft Store -- all FREE!

You can learn about all of the current camp offerings and find out more about hosting events and birthday parites at your local Microsoft Store by visiting their store locator page.

I asked my two oldest boys about having a Microsoft store party and they were very intrigued. And, it's a no-brainer that my kids absolutely had the best time hanging there on the day we visited.

Someone, in fact, wishes they could "play all day":

Join Me for a #GoMicrosoft Twitter Party

And now for some fun! I'm excited to be co-hosting a #GoMicrosoft Twitter party on May 14, 2013 at 12 p.m. Central time. We'll be talking about the latest tech products and exciting kids events at the Microsoft store! We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #GoMicrosoft hashtag to track the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite: http://twtvite.com/GoMicrosoft

Win a $100 Microsoft Store Gift Card

I just loved what I experienced at the Microsoft Store, and I'm thrilled to give one of you the opportunity to do the same! One lucky Mommypalooza reader will win (1) $100 Microsoft Store Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and I received free product to review for this post, however all opinions expressed are my own. No one is the boss of me!}

Monsters University | Mother's Day Video

2013-05-09T22:14:23-05:00

I hope you'll love this Mother's Day inspired video featuring Ms. Squibbles and the rest of the MONSTERS UNIVERSITY characters as much as we all do!

Monsters University comes out in theaters on June 21, 2013. To find out more, connect with them here:

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook: http://facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity

"Follow" Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar

Thirst-Quenching Teacher Appreciation Gift

2013-05-07T23:21:48-05:00

It's Teacher Appreciation Week! One of the things I love about my kids' school is that the PTO puts together a list every year of each teacher's "favorites" list. Teachers are asked to indicate what their favorites are in several categories: soft drink, flowers, candy, team to root for, restaurant, etc. So, this week the kids and I have been using that list to come up with different treats for their teachers.

Today we surprised them with their favorite flower (picked up at a local grocery store) and their favorite soft drink. I also wanted to do something a little more than simply sending the kids in with a bottle of Diet Coke. I ended up coming up with a fun saying. I printed out {on cardstock paper} the phrase "thank you for quenching my thirst for knowledge!", then stapled that card onto a brown paper lunch sack with the drink inside.

It was super easy but fun for the kids to hand to their teachers!

Even though I'm currently sleep-deprived, it took me all of five minutes to whip up the printable in Microsoft Word. If you'd like to download the printable in PDF format and use it, you can grab it from this link. Please feel free to drop me a note if you decide to use it!

So how are you showing your kids' teachers you apprecaite them for all they do?

{recipe}: Ground Beef Gorditas with MASECA® Corn Flour

2013-05-03T20:18:00-05:00

As a native Austinite, one of my most FAVORITE things I remember about my childhood growing up there is that we'd always experience many of the awesome outdoor festivals that the city has become known for. And, at these festivals one of my most favorite things to munch on was always gorditas, also known as "little fat tortillas". My grandma used to make them from scratch and I always remember how they'd disappear just as fast as she would get them hot off her stovetop and onto the table. I loved them just fine hot and with a spread of butter.

Recently, I had the chance to experience MASECA® products and doing so brought back so many memories about not only growing up Mexican-American, but growing up in Texas. So many great recipes and nostalgic foods from my childhood have MASECA® corn products interwoven in them. And, just in time for Cinco de Mayo, I'm sharing a quick recipe for making yummy beef gorditas!

What You Need:

For the Gorditas:

2 Cups MASECA® Corn flour
½ Tsp Salt
2 Cups Water

For the Beef Filling:

1 package of ground beef (approx. 1 lb.)
1-2 small potatoes (cut up into small chunks)
Garlic
Cumin
1 small onion, chopped coarsely
1 bell (green) pepper, sliced
1-2 Roma tomatoes - chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

What to Do:

For the Gorditas:

Mix the MASECA® with the salt and water until you have a soft and uniform dough. Make small balls with your hand and flatten them a little. Form the gordita gently.

Heat some oil in a pan and fry the gorditas until they are golden brown. Put them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

To serve them, open the gorditas in the middle and fill with the beef filling.

For the Beef Filling:

Prepare the potatoes and then get a skillet and begin browning the meat. Once it is halfway browned, add the potatoes so that they cook together with the meat. Add onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic and cumin (fresh is best but powder will do).

Once you see that the meat is cooked, add 1 cup of water into the meat mixture and cover under medium to low heat until all the water evaporates. Remove from heat and spoon into gordita shell. Top with lettuce (optional), Roma tomatoes, cheese, and any other toppings you like.

To connect with MASECA® online and to find other yummy recipes, visit them here and follow hashtag #MasecaNosGusta for even more fun!

{This is a sponsored post in collaboration Latina Bloggers Connect and MASECA®, however all opinions shared are those of my own. No one is the boss of me!}

5 Ways To Save Big on Maternity Wear

2013-05-01T22:48:12-05:00

Me, at 38 weeks pregnant!

Man, oh man, the past three and a half weeks have been so crazy busy adjusting to a new schedule with a newborn in the house, but I am feeling so amazingly blessed to have had such a great pregnancy and birthing experience.

With this having been my 4th baby, I feel like I've come a long way with knowing what to expect from pregnancy and labor. With that wisdom, also comes the discovery of how to maximize my maternity wardrobe while saving money. When I think back to being a first-time mom I realize that I was sweetly naive in thinking that since I was pregnant that naturally, my entire wardrobe would need to be temporarily replaced by whatever the local maternity store was carrying. Over the past few years, here's what I've learned: you can build a great maternity wardrobe doing a little creative thinking and shopping. The following are my top 5 ways to save money on your maternity wardrobe.

Your Closet

The first place you should begin to look for free maternity clothes is right in your own closet. Think knit or jersey tops since they'll likely provide the nice stretchy fit and feel that you'll need soon enough to accomodate your expanding bump. Don't discount pieces in your wardrobe simply because they're not designated "maternity" wear. Things like regular size yoga pants work great from pregnancy to post-partum and they'll keep you comfy. Consider jackets {like a cute denim one} and blazers in your wardrobe as well. They may not button all the way through your pregnancy but will look just as cute left unbuttoned.

Consignment & Thrift Stores

These places are great places to start when thinking about doing maternity wear shopping. Some of my favorite maternity pieces have been found at my local women's consignment shop which also carries gently used maternity wear. You'll find some great values, especially if you're in the market for work-appropriate maternity fashions. Career wear like suit pants and blouses sold new are very pricey so your best bet is trying to find them used at a thrift or consignment store for huge savings. One thing though is that you may have to keep checking back with your local thrift or consignment store to find what you want since inventory can change daily.

Friends & Family

It's likely that you know of friends or family members who have kids and thus may be willing to either give or loan you pieces from their maternity wardrobes for your pregnancy. It is especially helpful to ask around when you are needing a special occasion maternity dress or formal attire. Don't be afraid to tap into your social networks too -- send and email or put out a Facebook status update to inquire if anyone is willing to loan you their maternity bins. Chances are, they'll be happy to be rid of it -- even if only for a few months!

Online

Many expectant moms are able to find great deals on Craigslist for maternity clothes, but think beyond that. Many sites like Bump to Bump, which offers used maternity clothes, are popping up on the internet more and more these days. Also consider online parenting forums and baby sites that have message boards with moms willing to sell, swap, or pass around maternity clothes.

Sales & Coupons

Check out the sale and clearance racks of some of the stores you already shop at that may offer a maternity selection {think places like Kohls or Target}. You can often times combine sale items with coupons which can offer significant savings on maternity wear. Also, consider subscribing to the email lists or rewards programs for stores that offer maternity wear. Many times they will email or snail mail you coupons that you can use on maternity apparel.

Have you used any of these ways to save on maternity clothing in the past? Or if you're currently a first-time expectant mom, what are some ways you are building your maternity wardrobe while not overspending?

Disney's Monsters University | New Trailer!

2013-04-28T22:17:06-05:00

Who's ready for a little Mike & Sulley? I can't tell you how stoked my boys and I are about Monsters University coming out this June. I've already been asked about a hundred times by my kids if we are going to see it when it comes out. My reply? DUH!! Yes...of course!

For now, a sneak peek at the newest Monsters University trailer will have to do. Enjoy!

If the spirit moves you, you can also connect with Monsters University below:

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook.

"Follow" Disney/Pixar on Twitter.

Visit the website: http://www.Disney.com/MonstersU

Welcome, Baby Andrew!

2013-04-28T22:05:40-05:00

Wow. What a whirlwind of a few weeks it's been! My sweet baby Andrew finally made his appearance 3 weeks ago on Sunday April 7, 2013. He weighed a whopping 9 pounds even and was 21.5 inches long. My biggest baby by far!

It's been an interesting 3 weeks adjusting to our new little family member and a whole new routine. I still have to pinch myself some days because I can't believe I'm the mom of FOUR sons! It's crazy to think I've got these little men that my hubs and I are raising and how completely in love with them we are. If you would have told me 10 years ago that I'd be the mom of 4 little boys in just a few years time frame, I would have definitely ran the other way! But, truthfully, I feel amazingly blessed to be a part of their lives. I can't even imagine my life any other way. Yes, even on the days that they are literally jumping off couches and using our home as their own private gym. And while I love the brotherhood that my older three have built together, I am not in ANY hurry for our newest addition, Andrew, to grow up. But alas, the growing up is happening anyway.

Here he is now at 3 weeks old:

Since bringing him home there's been no shortage of love shown around these parts.

These boys have been amazingly helpful, especially my oldest, Nathan who is 9 {almost 10}. I'm excited that we get to start our summer together very soon which will allow all of the boys lots more time to bond as brothers.

I struggle with the thought that Andrew is likely our last baby and I just wish so much that I could stop time for just a bit. I am so appreciative of my role as mother, especially this time around. I was recently talking to a friend while waiting at school pickup about how much more laid back I am with Andrew. She is the mother of 4 girls and she admitted she knew exactly what I meant. She attributed the calmness to wisdom, plain and simple. I couldn't agree more. I sometimes don't even recognize myself when I see how un-stressed I am at certain things that would have nearly sent me over the edge if this was my first baby. I didn't even pack my hospital bag until a couple of days past Andrew's due date, for crying out loud! Crazy!

I hope to document Andrew's babyhood as much as possible. I am just so grateful for having had a healthy pregnancy and labor / delivery and can't wait to share more about Andrew with you in future posts!

{guest post}: Disney Infinity Virtual Toy Box Coming Soon

2013-04-24T14:24:24-05:00

Guest post via UltraPortableTech.com

The Disney Infinity service is announced but with a slight delay. The Disney Infinity is a video game that brings together your favorite characters much like Skylanders. Players collect figurines that are then synthesized within the game. It allows characters from Disney and Pixar to interact with each other on adventures.

There are 2 modes of gameplay, Play Set and Toy Box. Play Set mode requires characters to complete tasks in their own world. Toy Box mode allows different characters to interact with each other in a customizable world.

The Infinity Base has two slots for figurines and a slot for the world disc. When the figurines are placed in it's place the characters are loaded into the game. When the world disc is place, the Play Set is imported and the characters come alive.

Disney Infinity will be compatible with PS3, XBox 360, Wii U, Nintendo Wii, and 3DS. Start packs start at $29.99

DISNEY INFINITY Figure 3-Pack: Sidekicks