Happy Holidays MyBlogSpark-ers! Right about now, you’re probably gearing up for a wonderful holiday season filled with great family, great friends, and of course, great food! Thankfully, Betty Crocker is here to help make cooking and entertaining easier than ever with Betty Crocker’s Red Hot Holiday Trends 2011! The food experts at Betty Crocker have selected trends that will be red hot this holiday season, and have created delicious recipes to bring each one to life. These fun and delicious recipes are sure to fire up any holiday event, and keep you toasty and warm for the New Year ahead.

Trend: Double Desserts Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It’s a 1+1=3 kind of thing. Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange. Trend: Boozy Baking From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We’re loving these boozy baked goods! Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate “holiday helpers.” Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun. Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food! Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack ‘em up and watch ‘em go. Trend: From Cave to Kitchen Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that’s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can’t resist. Recipe: Mantastic Fried Chicken ‘n’ Waffle Sandwich Here’s a new take on chicken ‘n’ waffles - made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It’s the ultimate manly man meal. Trend: Skinny Cocktails Here’s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails. Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers! Trend: Better Than Bought From canning to candy making, there’s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity. Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt—a recipe to impress. Trend: Veggie Love Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love. Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip. Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn’t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we’re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone – whether you’re allergy-sensitive or not. Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten - no kidding! Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G Man’s best friend deserves man’s best effort. That’s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido’s list. Recipe: Dog Bark This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog’s favorite ingredients – bacon and cheese. Bow WOW! Trend: Food Craft The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat. Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.

We hope you might share some of these hot holiday trends with your family, friends, and readers. If you do end up posting, please be sure to disclose that you´ve received the details from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark. In addition, when posting, if you could please use the provided links below, we´d greatly appreciate it. Betty 10: Red Hot Holiday Trends: http://bit.ly/BCHolidayTrend Pumpkin Pie Cookies: http://bit.ly/bcppcookies Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes: http://bit.ly/bcboozycupcakes Cake Batter Cookie Stackers: http://bit.ly/bcstackers Mantastic Fried Chicken ‘n’ Waffle Sandwich: http://bit.ly/bcmansandwich Skinny Clementine Martini: http://bit.ly/bcmartini Cajeta Caramel Fudge: http://bit.ly/bcfudge Sweet Potato Hummus: http://bit.ly/bchummus Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread: http://bit.ly/bcgfbread Dog Bark: http://bit.ly/bcdogbark Chocolate Coal Lumps: http://bit.ly/bccoallumps Happy Holidays from your friends at Betty Crocker and MyBlogSpark! Best, Kelly D. MyBlogSpark

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North "Poll"

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North "Poll!" You'll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

New Blog

I am trying something different please start following here

Opinion Out Post

Today I received a check from Opinion Outpost for $21.80 for completing surveys.


This is one site that I LOVE! I don't spend a lot of time doing surveys, just a few minutes when I check my morning emails. Often they result in product trials for items we already use. So in turn you get a free product and paid to try it.




http://OpinionOutpost.com/join/5606945

It isn't much but it adds up. From Opinion Outpost alone I have earned..

$272.80

Phineas and Ferb Bot Bot! and Agent P too.. Party Time!

We had the pleasure of hosting a Phineas and Ferb Party. Think Tacos, Cupcakes and sugared up kids. Thanks to Disney and Child's Play they had really awesome gift bags too!



The adults and children both loved the movie. So much that we watched it again Saturday morning... And now we keep hoping it comes out on DVD. The movie made us emotional. We all were sad to realize Phineas and Ferb would not realize their pet was really Agent P.  

My son who NEVER sits still while watching TV was captivated the ENTIRE time TWICE! ( Remember it was on the next morning too)

The pre-movie activities included having the kids assemble Perry Cupcakes with some assistance. (The kids aren't shown because I don't believe in publishing pictures of other people's children or facial pictures of my child on a public forum. Especially with the nature of today's society.)


 However the Masks Disney and Child's Play made this picture possible....

and in case you didn't know he was a fan...

We found Perry was the favorite among the kids and Ferb was the favorite among the adults.  We were also a little disappointed to not see Vanessa the love interest of Ferb in the movie ( the adults).


* Sorry this post should have been posted early but it was saved in drafts instead. I have more pictures to come*

Mail Today

I have been super lazy about posting what I got in the mail.

1. $20 MyOpinion Now Check
2. Kashi bar and $1.50 coupon off any Kashi product.

Give Away Time

 I was given the opportunity to try Seventh Generation Diapers. We currently only use diapers at night so it took me awhile to evaluate them. I have an extremely sensitive child and these did not cause rashes like other brands have on him.

This prize pack was provided by Seventh Generation and MyBlogSpark. They also are providing this link to a $2.00 off coupon for their brand diapers. 

Seventh Generation wants to offer you an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek at their newly re-launched Free & Clear diapers. With the same great performance that parents have come to expect from Seventh Generation, Free & Clear diapers have a brand new look that makes it ‘clear’ what makes them so special.

What Seventh Generation leaves out is just as important as what they put in. Free & Clear diapers do not include chlorine processing, fragrances, latex and petroleum based lotions. In an effort to contribute less overall landfill waste and continue to ensure a premium standard of absorbency, the new Free & Clear diapers have been redesigned with a lighter-weight core. With processed chlorine-free wood pulp in Free & Clear diapers, Seventh Generation also makes certain that no chlorine is released into the environment during the totally chlorine-free (TCF) whitening process of the diapers and training pants.

Seventh Generation has also reduced the size of the diapers’ plastic packaging, meaning that each pack now contributes even less overall landfill waste than before. In fact, Seventh Generation Free & Clear diaper packaging can now be recycled at local supermarkets where plastic bag recycling collection boxes are available. 


In order to win you must post a comment here and over at my new blog that I will be transitioning too.  

New Blog, New Party, New Direction

As many of you know we are moving so I decided to move a new direction with this blog. First off if you are drama filled move along this blog isn't for you and personally I don't want you here either. This is a place for fun and entertainment. You know who you are so move along...

With that out of the way. I am going to dual post here and my new blog until my followers decided to come along....

I have been given the pleasure of hosting aPhineas and Ferb Movie Screening Party on August 5, 7:30-9:30 pm  via Children's Play. Well the little man has but I will be in charge!

They were kind enough to send a hug box full of masks and tattoos! 

You too can host a party! Here are a few tips!

1. Target Dollar spot is full of Phineas and Ferb stuff, socks, plates, bowls. white boards, tablets, activity books!
2. Target also has a ton of Phineas and Ferb items on clearance!
3. Disney Family has crafts and food items here
4. Coloring pages can be found here
5. Pre-made Phineas and Ferb crafts can be found here Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension (Phineas & Ferb)

Also in preparation you can go to Family Video and rent Phineas and Ferb free as part of their FREE Children's Rental program.

Dual post can be found here.. but this one has pictures! 

Go Gos!

If you know me, you know I am not very good at knowing what is cool. So when I saw Child's Play Party offer this party I had NO idea what these were. But they said 4 and up so I was curious! I have a 3 and half year old who really wants to be like his older cousins \. I applied and was picked to host a party.
They sent 15 sticker books and 100 individually wrapped Go Gos! Which I of course thought would be awesome to put in Easter eggs instead of Candy!

I will admit I wondered about the educational and fun value for their target demographic. Ages 4 and up. Even though he isn't yet 4 I let him open a booklet and he got a kick out the characters and matching the numbered sticker from the packet to the correct place in the booklet. He then said he couldn't wait to share GoGos with his friends!

Product Review- Little Looster

             Recently I was given the opportunity to review the Little Looster via Question Moms and Little Looster themselves.

 I am going to try this in two bathrooms, because in our main bathroom the toilet is much higher than your standard toilet. We have a "KOHLEKOHLER K-3609-0 Cimarron Comfort Height Elongated " Toilet. Which is not great for potty training a little boy at all! It is high and much harder for them to reach. Which is why I was excited to try this product. Previously he was moving our scale over and standing on that to go...

One claim is that you won't have to use a potty seat insert or move the stool. 

This is the top view.

This is the front view.

 

It doesnt go tight against the toilet. I think it would work better if I could push it in closer. 

                I can't imagine using this without the potty seat. My child looked at it and told me he needed the insert and wouldn't try sans the insert.

Scentsy Give Away

GIVEWAY TIME

I love scentsy products. They are great for a home with small kids. Currently we are getting ready  to sell our home and I feel much more confident using a scentsy warmer when we show the house.

  This giveaway is being sponsored by Brandi Sawyer, Independent Scentsy Consultant.  Brandi is giving 1 lucky reader the April Warmer & Scent Bar of the month (a $35 value) and 1 lucky winner April’s Scent Bar of the Month & Room Spray (a $13 value)! 
To enter the giveaway visit Brandi Sawyer, Independent Scentsy Consultant Facebook page and “like” her page and fill out this form for 1 entry.  Leave a comment on Facebook for 1 entry.  Leave a comment on Couponing to Disney for 1 entry.  Make any purchase from Brandi’s Scentsy site & receive 5 entries! 
The new catalog has just been released!  You can check out all Scentsy has to have offer at her site.  Scentsy is the perfect gift for the person in your life that has everything. 
*Winners will be selected 4/11/11 using random.org.  Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize. 
If Brandi Sawyer, Independent Scentsy Consultant can reach 250 “likes” on her Facebook page she will be having another giveaway!!!

Home Energy Kit from First Energy

Sign up here for your Energy Kit

I received this yesterday, great kit! 

$304.90 of Clothes for $1.98

4 Shirts From the Macy's Clearance. I used a $25.00 Merchandise Credit I received because they forgot to remove a security device from an item that my husband received as a gift. 

1. $50.00 marked down to$7.50
2. $29.99 marked down to $4.99
3. Original 14.99 marked down to 6.99
4. Original Price $50.00 marked down to 7.50
   

8 Pairs of FREE jeans from Target . The were marked down to 4.98 and there is a printable and mobile coupon for $5.00 off women's denim. Originally 19.99

I learned about this deal here and she has a link to the printable coupon as well!

and here is where you sign up for the mobile coupons.

* The jeans are junior sizing and run about 2 sizes larger than what you normally wear.

Today's Mail

• $50 Amazon Gift Card
• BzzAgent Bagel Thins BzzKit.