Mommy2TwoGirls

Real Steel-A New Movie by Dreamworks Feature

2011-08-30T21:51:00.002-04:00

I like Going to movies once in a while, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of them out there lately that interests me. I like Hugh Jackman, so we'll have to go check this one out! I like Rocky and I like futuristic movies. i remember the first movie my husband and I went to was demolition man with sylvester stallone, that was a weird movie!

real steel

DREAMWORKS PICTURES

Website and Mobile site: www.steelgetsreal.com

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/realsteelmovie

Genre: Action-Drama

Rating: PG-13

U.S. Release date: October 7, 2011

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Kevin Durand

Director: Shawn Levy

Producers: Don Murphy, Susan Montford, Shawn Levy

Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Jack Rapke, Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen

Screenplay by: John Gatins

Story by: Dan Gilroy and Jeremy Leven

Based in part on the

short story “Steel” by: Richard Matheson

A action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, “Real Steel” stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

“Real Steel” is directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum” franchise and “Date Night”).

“Real Steel” is about a former boxer (Hugh Jackman) who, against all odds, gets one last shot at a comeback when he teams up with his estranged son (Dakota Goyo) to build and train the perfect contender for the new high-tech sport of robot boxing.

Frito Lay Tastes from Home Recipe and a Giveaway!

2011-08-23T20:10:00.019-04:00

I was recently asked to participate in a wonderful opportunity from Frito Lay called the Tastes From Home Recipe Contest. For me there are so many recipes that remind me of home. My grandmother was THE best cook and baker as I have often said on my blog so many times before, but being able to find one of her recipes or even duplicate it would be a tremendous task. She had her own way of doing things and quite honestly never wrote down or followed recipes very often. So, I thought long and hard about what recipe to feature here at Mommy2Twogirls for this unique opportunity and what I came up with was something very simple that everyone either has made at one point or definitely eaten in some capacity. My lasagna might not be any different than what you make, but my family loves it and my aunt is always asking me to make it for her. She raves that it is the only Italian dish that she can eat that doesn't give her heartburn, guess that is truly saying something. It reminds me of home because I go back to my roots, to the love and hard work that my grandmother put into each and every one of her dishes. The time and effort that she always took into making sure that everyone enjoyed her food, that's what I like to do with my lasagna. Every time I make it, I layer it different, or maybe add another ingredient, it's just never the same, yet it is always delicious.

Eloise's Homemade Cheesy Lasagna-

1 box of lasagna noodles (you can use any variety you like)

2 jars of Ragu Garden Combination Pasta Sauce (3 if you like it extra saucy)

1 container of lowfat small curd cottage cheese

1 small green bell pepper

1 small red bell pepper

1 small package of fresh mushrooms

1 roll of Bob Evans Italian Sausage

1 lb of ground beef, ground chuck, or ground sirloin (ground turkey works well too!)

1 8oz package of shredded mozzarella cheese

1 8oz package of Sargento 4 Cheese Italian Blend Shredded Cheese

1 8oz package of shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

a little chopped onion just for flavor in the meat

Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper to flavor the meat

Brown meat with seasonings and onion until done. You can combine the sausage and beef together or cook them separately. You may also add the peppers and mushrooms if you like them sauteed, I usually add the veggies in the layers. Cook your noodles and set them aside (or if you prefer to use the Oven Ready lasagna that is an options as well). Spray the bottom and signs of your casserole or baking dish (any size will work) so that everything doesn't stick. Layer as you wish, but for example I go with some sauce on the bottom, then a layer of noodles, then my sausage/beef mixture, some green and red peppers, then a package of cheese, sauce on top of that, then more noodles, mushrooms, cottage cheese, more sauce, more noodles, well..you get the point! Make sure to have a layer of noodles, sauce and top it with lots of cheese on the top before you put it in the oven so you get that golden brown crust on top when you take it out of the oven. Bake at 400 degrees for an hour to up to an hour and a half (make sure to have a cookie sheet underneath in case it runs over.) Serve with garlic bread, garlic sticks or ciabatta garlic rolls and a fresh tossed salad for a great meal!

The secret to making this lasagna taste so different and even more delicious is to make it the day before you cook it and leave it in the fridge overnight. All the flavors "marinate" overnight and the noodles soak in all of the sauce...it is amazing!

Frito Lay has introduced a new line of delicious Regional Flavors Potato Chips that look and sound divine! These chips were inspired by popular American regional cuisine and include:

*Northeastern US-Lay's Honey Mustard

*Midwestern US-Lay's Creamy Garden Ranch

*Northwestern US-Lay's Balsamic Sweet Onion

*Southwestern US-Lay's Chipotle Ranch

*Southeastern US-Lay's Cajun Herb & Spice

All of Lay's Regional Flavored Potato Chips are made with all natural ingredients and cooked in healthier oils, like corn and sunflower oils, which contain 80% or more of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat-"the good fats". They also contain 0 grams of trans fat per serving. There's also less sodium in them than you might think0a 1oz serving of Lay's Regional Flavored Potato Chips contains less salt than a plain bagel!

I would love to try the Creamy Garden Ranch flavor as I love ranch and garden makes me think there's some veggies in there somewhere..maybe?! Also the Balsamic Sweet Onion has got me a little curious, it sounds different yet delicious. Of course they all sound really good and quite honestly I would love to try them all!

How about you? Would you like a chance to try the Lay's Regional Flavors? Well lucky for you, I've got your chance!

Winner will be selected via Rafflecopter and will be emailed. You will have 48 hours from the time you are notified to respond or a new winner will be drawn. Open to US residents 18 and over ONLY! Special thanks to Frito Lay for sponsoring this giveaway. Frito Lay provided me with samples of the Regional Flavors chips and my blog post is an entry into the recipe contest. The prize is the responsibility of the sponsor and will be sent to the winner by the sponsor themselves.

Disclosure-I received no monetary compensation for this blog post. The words expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. I abide by all FTC rules and regulations.

Five Question Friday-August 5

2011-08-05T15:24:00.000-04:00

1. Do you have siblings and are you close with them? I have two half sisters and a half brother, but I am not close with them at all, to them I don't exist. The last time I saw them was right after my father passed away over 20 years ago. They wanted to hang out with me and supposedly get to know me, that last maybe a couple of weeks and I haven't seen them since. I have a sister in law that I call my sister and one of my best friends. I can talk to her about pretty much everything and she is always there for me.

2. Would you rather be slightly UNDER weight or slightly OVER weight?Honestly, I would rather be SLIGHTLY UNDER weight. I have been overweight and extremely overweight for so long now, I would like to know what it feels like to be on the opposite side of the fence for once.

3. What's your favorite State Fair food to splurge on?Oh boy, this is a hard one! I do love the pizza, something about it tastes so much different. I am not huge on the elephant ears though. I also like the walking tacos and the chicken on a stick!

4. What are your thoughts on your kid(s) going to school in a few weeks?I always say that I am excited for the oldest one to be heading back to school because I can only hear, "I'm Bored!" so many times. But I always seem to be sad and miss her especially on the first day.

5. Pool or Ocean? I love pools, and never have been to an ocean. How about a lake? LOL

Friday Blog Hops-August 5th Edition

2011-08-05T14:37:00.000-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops-August 4th Edition

2011-08-04T14:31:00.000-04:00

Nutrisystem Nation-Week Two

2011-08-04T09:39:00.001-04:00

OK, so this week two post is a little later than I wanted to do it. Hubby decided at the last minute last week to go camping for the weekend and here we are trying to get everything done in a hurry to get out of town for the weekend. Then when we get back, of course there is all of the unpacking to do and then catching up on laundry. Seems like I had to wash every blanket and pillow!

So week two on Nutrisystem proved to be a huge challenge for me. In getting everything ready for camping, I seemed to lose my way a little bit. I found it a lot harder to stay on as we ended up going out for dinner or picking up things for dinner most of the week. I stuck to the plan for most of the day and ended up getting healthier alternatives for dinners, but to say that I was disappointed in myself would be an understatement. I ended up losing two pounds for the week bringing my total weight loss on the Nutrisystem program to 6 pounds total in two weeks, but I couldn't help thinking if I would have been in the right mindset, I would have lost more. I also wasn't in the gym as much as I would have liked. I tried to eat sensibly while we were camping as well. I brought my foods with me and followed the plan with some fresh fruits and vegetables. I packed some fresh broccoli in our cooler and snacked on it during the day when I was hungry. Of course, I strayed away from the plan for dinner once again because we had hot dogs over the fire, but I was smart about it and ate them in moderation. For me though, I feel it was a disappointing week, and I am working hard to do better for week number three.

The thing I really have loved best about the Nutrisystem plan is the breakfasts. I am loving the Chocolate Chip Scone and the Double Chocolate Muffin! I pair these with some yogurt and juice in the morning and it really is a satisfying meal not to mention who doesn't love chocolate in the morning? Another meal I really enjoyed for this week was the Glazed Chicken Tenders with Green Beans and Almonds. This was SOOO good and had a delicious flavor!

Here is a sample of how Nutrisystem gets such wonderful success stories and how their program works:

The Science Behind The System

So, what’s our secret? Simple—we’ve got science on our side.

Nutrisystem is based on the proven science of the Glycemic Index, and eating low-GI meals 5 to 6 times a day helps keep your blood sugar and metabolism stable, so your body burns calories more effectively.

Plus, we’ve found a way to make dieting doable by providing you with the foods you love-minus the guilt.

Menu staples like Lasagna, Mac & Cheese, and chocolate are given a good-for-you spin with fiber, protein and good carbs to help control cravings and keep you feeling satisfied, then packaged into just the right portion size so you never go overboard.

All in all, it’s a complete, balanced approach to losing weight and living healthier.

Want to take the first step to a new you? Want to lose the weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or visit Nutrisystem.

Week three progress will be posted sometime tomorrow, wish me luck!

Disclosure-I received the Nutrisystem program free of charge as well as support services and information in exchange for weekly posts on my progress as part of the Nurtisystem Nation Blogging Program. Results are not typical for everyone and may vary. The words expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. I abide by all FTC rules and regulations.

Posts Delayed

2011-07-28T20:37:00.002-04:00

Nutrisystem Nation-Week 2 and a couple of giveaways will be delayed until Monday as I am heading out of town first thing tomorrow morning for a weekend trip with the family. Thanks to all for your understanding and have a wonderful weekend!

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-July 23-July 30

2011-07-23T11:28:00.000-04:00

Good Saturday morning! How is everyone doing today? We have been dealing with a lot of heat and humidity here in Michigan this week as I'm sure a lot of you might have been dealing with as well. It's a rare thing for us to have a week long heat event like this week living on the lake.
As you may have noticed a few things have changed on my blog this week. Heather and her associate have been working on cleaning up the sidebars a little and making some pages. They are now working on a design and hopefully by next week, I will have a new blog.
Now onto the Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky! Do you have some cool giveaways going on over at your blog right now, maybe a summertime event? Run across some fun giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week!
Have a wonderful weekend all! Got a couple of giveaways coming up that you are sure to like!

Nutrisystem Nation-Week One

2011-07-22T10:52:00.002-04:00

Well, my first week on the Nutrisystem program has come and gone and I have to say it wasn't so bad at all! I stuck to the plan for the most part, except having a couple of dinners with the family, but I always made sure to incorporate my fruits and vegetables and stuck to my handy dandy daily tracker. I always carry this with me wherever I go because it is not only a great tool to write down all of what I eat, it also has a list of veggies, fruits, proteins, fats, and so much more that I am allowed to eat. The day before I actually started, I went to Walmart with the hubby and girls and I took the tracker with me. Not only was that a huge help, but hubby was a huge help as well. He helped me pick out a wonderful variety of things to go along with the Nutrisystem plan. Vegetables are pretty much "free" foods, so I wanted to stock up on those as much as possible.

Picking out all of my food for the month was exciting and fun, there was so many choices and quite honestly I was a little overwhelmed. I wasn't sure what to pick that would work for me. I have never tried any diet program like this before, I have always been on my own and basically followed my own diet plan of course failing each and every time, so I was a little nervous starting something like Nutrisystem where I felt like I had to be strict about what I eat. It's not like that at all! They have great meals! A couple of my favorites from this past week would have to be the Chocolate Chip Scones for breakfast, Chicken Quesadilla for lunch, the Salisbury Steak and Mac & Cheese for dinner and the Strawberry Shortcake bar for dessert. There was only one meal that I had for lunch that I didn't finish and that was the Chicken and Pasta in Cacciatore , I didn't like the flavor or texture of it very much. I have tried to stick to the program as best I could, but once a week we love to go out and have dinner. I know now that I can do this, in my meal planner it shows me how to eat sensible when I go out. The biggest problem for me is that I have always been a snacker throughout the day and on the days I work I like to head out to a fast food place and grab some lunch. I found the first couple of days that I was on Nutrisystem, I was pretty hungry a couple of hours after breakfast and lunch, because I was used to eating so much more than the smaller portions. For example, for breakfast I will now have a Nutrisystem entree with a yogurt and a glass of juice or some fruit along with a slice of toast, oatmeal or a half English muffin. Now, I have become a little more accustomed to the plan and have started to work with it instead of against it in some ways. I love not having to think about what to have for meals like cooking something or running out to buy something. It is all ready for me, the only thing I have to do is choose what I want from all of the choices that I made. Everyday is a new adventure and something different instead of the same thing all the time. The combination of the Nutrisystem food combined with my fruits and veggies makes this plan a lot more interesting and quite honestly easier to want to stick to.

This first week on Nutrisystem, I lost 4.4 pounds. I feel like maybe I could have done a little better, but at the same time I am happy with my progress. I also love that I have online support over at Nutrisystem.com if and when I need it. I also love that I can head over to the website and track what I eat from there and also get suggestions to help me along with each meal. I am really looking forward to seeing what more I can accomplish and excited to continue onto week #2! Here's a little bit about the Nutrisystem nutrition:

Nutrition

Forget fad diets. Nutrisystem is a proven, balanced approach to eating and losing weight that helps you learn healthy habits for life.
Nutrisystem® entrees and desserts feature:

Low-glycemic “good carbs”
Protein
Fiber
Low sodium
Low fat
No trans fats

Plus, each meal is prepared for you and fits into a complete weight loss system uniquely designed to give you maximum results.
You also get to add fresh grocery items (fruit, dairy, salads and vegetables) into your plan so you're guaranteed nutrition every single day.
Altogether, it's nutritious, delicious weight loss
that works.

Nutrisystem foods contain "good carbs" that are digested slowly to help you feel more satisfied.

I also wanted to show you a before picture, that way you can see the results for yourself!

Want to try the Nutrisystem plan for yourself? Head on over to Nutrisystem.com to lose weight and get healthy. Or call 1-888-853-4689. Here's hoping for a great week #2, see you next week.

Disclosure- The words expressed in this post are my own and not influenced in any way. I am provided food and assistance free of charge by Nutrisystem in exchange for weekly posts and check ins. I am not compensated for writing these postings. I am in compliance with all FTC rules and regulations.

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-July 16-July 23

2011-07-16T08:49:00.000-04:00

Good Saturday morning to you all! Sorry I have been a little busy with a lot of things lately, it just seems that I don't have enough hours in the day to get everything done. Trying to work on the new blog design, the Nutrisystem blogging program, the girls and summer in general just to name a few things. The weather here in Michigan is going to be unbearable for the next week with high temps toward 90 and when you factor in the humidity it's going to feel like 100 with no relief in sight for a while. We also have lack of rain which is no good for the flowers and the grass. I am so hoping to get things together soon so I can devote more time to getting this blog back where I used to have it. Please bear with me during all of these wonderful changes, I'm hoping you all won't be disappointed.
Now back after a couple of weeks:the Mommy2TwoGirls giveaway linky! Do you have great giveaways going on at your blog right now or maybe run across some that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week!

Nutrisystem Nation Blogger

2011-07-11T20:35:00.002-04:00

I've got some wonderful news to share with all of my faithful readers here at Mommy2TwoGirls! I was just accepted last week as a Nutrisystem Nation Blogger! What exactly does this mean? Over the next FOUR months, I get to share a new journey of my life with all of you.

All of my life, I have struggled with my weight. I haven't always been big, but really started gaining weight shortly after I got married. I guess you could say that I got comfortable in my relationship. I also have always loved fast food and Coca Cola. When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I actually lost 50 pounds because I was sick all of the time and went gestational diabetic. After I had her, I felt great..for a while but soon enough all the weight came back and then some. With my second daughter, I only gained one pound but no one even knew I was pregnant because of all of the weight that I was carrying around. Last year, I was pushing 300 pounds and was the heaviest that I have ever been in my life. I have tried many different diets plans and have exercised by going for walks with my family only to have failed. At the very end of last year, I joined a gym and spent a few weeks trying to walk on a treadmill for an hour a day. Quite honestly it wasn't until a month ago that I got really serious and have lost 13 pounds for a grand total of 23 pounds since the beginning of the year. Unfortunately it's not enough and I have set a goal for myself that if I reach it will not only make me the thinnest I've ever been, but the healthiest. And thanks to Nutrisystem, you all will be able to follow my incredible journey to a new me for the next four months.

My weight has always been a burden to me and has kept me from playing with my kids without getting tired, has not allowed to me go places that I would like to go to without feeling ridiculed. I am now totally committed to reaching my life long goal and being the best and healthiest person that I can be. I am extremely excited to be a part of this wonderful program and quite honestly am honored that Nutrisystem chose to sponsor me. I will be blogging about my experiences with the Nutrisystem program once a week, so you will all be able to read about it as well as see the results for yourself. I just received all of my wonderful food today and am excited to get started on the program. It was so fun for me to be able to choose all of the food that I would be receiving and was so impressed with the selection that was in front of me. I also received a big Nutrisystem water bottle that helps me along the way with my daily water intake so I can always make sure that I get exactly the amount I need. I will follow up this post soon with starting stats as well as a little bit into the program itself, what I received for food, and what I got to eat every Thursday. You will get to "ride" along with me so to speak and follow every aspect of my journey.

Want to lose weight and get healthy on Nutrisystem? Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

Disclosure-I will receive four months on Nutrisystem food as well as advice and help in exchange for sharing about my weight loss on my blog and social media sites. The words expressed and the opinions that I share are my own and not influenced in any way. Follow #NSNation on Twitter to see other bloggers who have been through the Nutrisystem program.

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-July 2-July 9

2011-07-01T21:26:00.001-04:00

Happy 4th of July weekend! What are your plans this weekend? Mine includes a parade and cookout tomorrow at my sister's house, a cookout at our house on Sunday and then who knows what? Hope you all have a great and safe weekend! Do you have great giveaways going on at your blog right now, or maybe a summer event? Run across some cool giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week here on the Saturday Spectacular Giveaway Linky.

Five Question Friday-July 1st

2011-07-01T15:33:00.001-04:00

1. If you had the opportunity to bungee jump, would you? No way, I am terrified of heights.

2. Would you rather go to the movie theater or to the drive-in? I love going to both, but prefer to go to the movie theater.

3. Do you have your groceries delivered? Uh...no. I go to the store every week, sometimes more than once a week and do my shopping the normal way, with two kids arguing in tow, stand in line for a half hour to check out and go down the cramped aisles of people standing in the middle talking to one another or on their cell phones. What would I ever do without it?!

4. Eyebrows: Do you wax, thread, pluck, or stay au naturel? I stick to au naturel, I have never done anything to my eyebrows except make sure I don't end up with a uni brow. I just go with the flow and thank God that I don't have to be vain enough to worry about it.

5. Would the people you went to high school with be surprised by your life today? Maybe. I am a lot different now than I was in high school. I was pretty much a loner in school and never had a boyfriend, now here I am married for 15 years with two kids. I wish I was more successful as far as a career went, but I think people would be a little surprised.

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-June 25-July 2

2011-06-25T10:29:00.000-04:00

Good Saturday morning! Hope you are all having a great weekend so far. I have been busy the past few days working my way through the Blog Bash list of great prizes to win. Do you have great giveaways going on at your blog right now, or maybe a summer event? Run across some cool giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week here on the Saturday Spectacular Giveaway Linky.

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-June 18-June 25

2011-06-17T21:17:00.000-04:00

Happy weekend! Do you have some great giveaways going on at your blog right now or maybe a summer event? Run across some fun giveaways that you would like to share? List them here today and all week on the Saturday Spectacular at Mommy2TwoGirls. Have a wonderful weekend!

Five Question Friday-June 17th

2011-06-17T21:07:00.000-04:00

1. What is your favorite summer time activity?

Camping, we love to go camping a lot. The past couple years we haven't done it as much with the addition of the little one, but am hoping to go a few times this summer. Something about campfires, hot dogs and marshmallows combined with sleeping out in a tent and all of the fresh air.

2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale?

I usually buy whatever is on sale for the most part, but really love the Purex Naturals Laundry Detergent the best. It has a long-lasting scent.

3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer?

Anything on the grill!

4. Do you have any talents?

Not really......

5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why?

I would be an expert in sports or radio broadcasting because it has always been something that I wanted to do.

Social Parade Friday-June 17th

2011-06-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

Friday Blog Hopping-June 17th Edition

2011-06-17T13:59:00.000-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops-June 16th Edition

2011-06-16T14:51:00.000-04:00

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-June 10-June 17

2011-06-10T20:26:00.000-04:00

Good evening and welcome back to the Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky. It has been a crazy few weeks and so sorry for the lack of updates, trust me I have a lot of blog work to do. Next week, Heather starts work on the new blog and I am looking forward to it, it is definitely time for a change. Do you have any great giveaways going on at your blog right now, or a Summer event coming up? Run across some great giveaways that you would love to share/ Link them up here today and all week here! Have a wonderful weekend!

Social Parade Friday-June 10th

2011-06-10T15:21:00.000-04:00

Friday Blog Hops-June 10th

2011-06-10T15:10:00.002-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-06-02T09:04:00.000-04:00

Changes Coming Soon!

2011-05-31T20:42:00.000-04:00

Good evening. Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I was notified this morning that I was a winner in a recent blog makeover giveaway over at Kelly's Lucky You. I am excited to have won and am looking forward to a new look as well as new changes around here at Mommy2TwoGirls. Look for exciting new things coming soon!

Fandango Giveaway

2011-05-31T20:24:00.000-04:00

I used to love going to movies all of the time, back when I was single and didn't have any kids that is. I remember being a teenager and going at least once a week to my local theater to see a movie that I was excited to see. There were also times that I would see two movies in a row or what we call a "double feature". The prices of movies "back then" were a lot cheaper than they are now. A lot of us can't afford to go to a movie much less then popcorn, candy and drinks, hard to believe how high prices have skyrocketed. I still go to movies once in a while, but not at all as often as I used to, I would have to say that I might go to the movies now once every three to four months, if that. I am excited though for Cars 2 and am looking forward to taking the oldest to see this. If I am really excited about a movie, I will head off to my theater, but lately there just doesn't seem to be too many movies that have come out that really interests me.

So, how do you buy your movie tickets when you go? Do you buy them in advance at the box office, or maybe just buy them when you go? Maybe you use one of the latest online movie sites and buy your tickets right through there? Once such site that I have checked out recently is Fandango.com. Fandango.com is a great site where you can check out what movies are playing in and around your area and allows you to purchase tickets without having to wait in line. You can also check out DVD releases and choose to either buy them from Amazon.com or if you're like me and have Netflix you can add these releases from Fandango.com right to your Netflix queue. They also feature movie guides and entertainment news to keep you informed.

For more information, head on over HERE.

Want to win? I've got a $50 Fandango.com Gift Card for one lucky Mommy2TwoGirls reader!

MAIN ENTRY-Mandatory and must be done before any extra entries. Make sure that your email address is included in your comment so that I have a way to contact you if you win.

Let me know a movie that is out in theaters now or is coming to theaters soon that you are really wanting to see.

EXTRA ENTRIES-Please list a separate comment for each.

*Follow my blog via GFC

*Follow me on Twitter (@furygirl3132)

*Tweet this giveaway-You may do this once daily.

*Follow Fandango on Twitter HERE

*Like Fandango on Facebook HERE

*Subscribe to me via RSS

*Subscribe to my email updates (2 entries)

*Friend me on Facebook (Eloise Bowen Carlson) or LIKE my Mommy2TwoGirls page (1 entry for each)

*Grab my button and add it to your blogroll or sidebar (3 entries)

*Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Fandango.com and me (5 entries)

Giveaway will end on Wednesday June 13 at 7pm EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified by email as well as posted here on my blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Open to US residents ONLY! GOOD LUCK!

Disclosure-This giveaway is not affiliated with Fandango personally in any way and comes directly from me. The words are my own and not influenced in any way. I abide by all FTC rules and regulations when doing reviews and giveaways. No purchase necessary void where prohibited by law.

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-05-26T14:39:00.000-04:00

Sunday Blog Hops

2011-05-21T21:28:00.001-04:00

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways

2011-05-20T22:32:00.000-04:00

Good evening and welcome to the Saturday Spectacular Giveaway linky sponsored by Mommy2TwoGirls (I need a button made for this!) Do you have a giveaway or two that is running on your blog right now, maybe a Summer Spectacular or some other kind of event? Run across some great giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week! Have a great weekend!

Five Question Friday

2011-05-20T15:22:00.000-04:00

1. Do you and your spouse go to bed at the same time?

Yes a couple of days a week we do, that is when I have to go to work. Otherwise I usually stay up a couple hours later than him to watch TV or work on the computer. It is the only time that I get some quiet time and can get stuff done without interruption.

2. A question for the ladies...What kind of facial hair do you like on your man?

I love goatees. Hubby has had one for quite sometime and would hate it if he shaved it off.

3. What's the worst vacation you've ever taken?

I haven't been on a whole lot of vacations, so I would have to say that I have never had a bad vacation.

4. What's the first-ever blog you followed?

Oh my goodness, I follow so many that I can't honestly remember which one was my very first. It might have been Sweeps For Bloggers or Leslie Loves Veggies.

5. Do you enjoy amusement parks?

I like water parks and water rides, but I am not huge on amusements parks or rides like that.

Social Parade Friday

2011-05-20T14:47:00.000-04:00

Friday Blog Hops

2011-05-20T14:41:00.001-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-05-19T15:03:00.000-04:00

Saturday Spectacular-Sunday Edition

2011-05-15T19:19:00.000-04:00

So sorry for the delay, I have been busy this weekend with activities with the family and forgot to post this! So we will post this right now and go until Saturday with the giveaways! Have some going on at your blog right now that you want to share? Come across some giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here this week and all week at Mommy2TwoGirls. I would LOVE to do a special gift card giveaway if we receive 200 entries to this linky! Please make a comment if you enter yours and let me know what kind of gift card you would most like to receive. I will keep all possibilities open to suggestions for what kind of card to offer. Thanks so much and have a wonderful week!

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-08T20:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day! Hope all of you wonderful mothers have had a great day like I have. I started off my day as I usually do, getting up late on a Sunday morning and missing breakfast at church but we all did make it to service and I'm so glad I did. My sister sang a beautiful song and trust me I wasn't planning on crying but I did. I miss my Mom today, she passed away three years next month and for some reason it has hit me really hard today. I have tried really hard to have a great day with my girls and my hubby and I have. Hubby made me a special dinner on the grill-chicken and steak kabobs with baked potatoes and my girls made me special teddy bear love pins at church and little one has been saying "Happy Mother's Day" all day with kisses and hugs. My mom has been on my mind all day and I for some reason feel guilty. My oldest daughter just held my hand and told me that she understood why I was down today. That means so much to me coming from her, because when my Mom passed away she was 5 years old and I was pregnant with my youngest. Remembering my Mom on this day and all that I went through during the process of her passing, it seems like yesterday. I feel guilty because after we got out of church and was going to Walmart to get my girls shoes, my husband got angry at me. I asked him why he was getting an attitude with me and he asked me "Did you ever stop to think if I had plans for you today?" I said no that I figured after he had spent money on me to buy flowers and a new American flag that he didn't have any other plans for me. I had even asked him on Friday night if he had anything else going of which he said he said no. Then he pulls this on me today. So needless to say, I got attitude for most of the day before it finally kicked in that "Hey maybe she is upset about something" never realizing that I was thinking about my Mom. He wanted to take me to my Mom's grave and for a possible relaxing ride up North. So, I say God bless my husband because his intentions and thoughts were there and he truly showed me that he cared. I love this man, through his fault and our arguments, 15 years with him and there's no one I would imagine spending my life with. On this Mother's Day, whereas I love my kids and enjoy spending the time with them, I miss and love my Mom tremendously and wish I could get "one more moment" with her where I could just say I LOVE YOU. Happy Mother' Day.

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-5/7-5/14

2011-05-06T22:35:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to another addition of Saturday Spectacular:THE Giveaway Linky! Do you have some great giveaways or maybe a carnival of blog hop going on at YOUR blog? Come across some wonderful giveaways that you would like to share with all of us? Link them up here today and all week here at Mommy2TwoGirls!
Make sure to check out my two giveaways going on right now too: Shari's Berries $50 Gift Code, you get get some absolutely delicious and juicy strawberries (chocolate covered and more!) and the Michael Seasons Kettle Cooked Potato Chips Prize Pack complete with FIVE bags of delicious and crispy chips, a t shirt, chip clip and reusable bag! Have a great weekend all and let's get this linky rocking with great giveaways. Stay tuned because if this linky gets over 200 entries, I will personally be sponsoring a great gift card giveaway! Tell your friends, family and everyone else you know, I want this linky to be HUGE because I personally LOVE entering all of your fun giveaways!

Five Question Friday

2011-05-06T15:11:00.000-04:00

1. Have you ever had roommates?

Not technically. I lived with my cousins for a little while, but believe it or not I have never been out on my own, except for one week where I lived with an old boyfriend in a motel room because he got kicked out of his house. I paid for it, I guess I couldn't see him living out on the street (or with another girl)..LONG STORY, I will save this one for a rainy day!

2. How many names do you/your children have? (i.e. Prince Charming William Phillip Arthur Louis John Jacob Jingleheimer-Schmidt)

Just first, middle, and last names although I guess I have called them other names like silly, baby, they both have nicknames, so maybe more than three, but legally just three!

3. Did you watch the Royal Wedding?

Absolutely, see my post about it last week HERE. I know I got sucked into all of the hype, but I am a sucker for not only a love story but any kind of entertainment and gossip I can get my hands on. It was a beautiful wedding and Kate was gorgeous, I feel like it was time well spent!

4. What is the messiest room in your house?

Probably the garage..oh wait that is outside not inside..duh! I would have to say the messiest room in the house has to be my oldest daughter's room. No matter how many times I got in to clean it and organize it, it always seems to go back to the way it was when she goes into it. There's always dirty clothes, stuffed animals, and crayons laying everywhere.

5. What is your ideal mothers day?

My favorite foods, spending time doing what I want to do and oh yeah...no kids yelling and fighting around the house. Of course, my husband being nice to me one day out of the year isn't bad either!

Friday Blog Hops

2011-05-06T14:23:00.000-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-05-05T15:36:00.000-04:00

Shari's Berries Review and Giveaway

2011-05-03T19:36:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day is approaching this Sunday and it's always so hard to find just the right gift. Flowers are a great option, but picking just the right bouquet might prove to be tricky. Clothes, well it seems you can never get the right style. Fragrance, you may like the scent but will Mom? Mother's Day is a special day and I love spending time with my kids and hubby. Last year, we went to my sister's house and she made my mother in law and I a special lasagna dinner complete with salad and garlic bread. It was so good that we are doing it again this Mother's Day. It's little things like this (and my girls' homemade cards!) that makes Mother's Day so memorable.

I recently received an awesome early Mother's Day gift for review from a great company called Shari's Berries. I had heard of them before by listening to shows like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh on talk radio. Shari's Berries has been a sponsor on these shows and they are always talking about the wonderful products that they have to offer such as HUGE hand dipped strawberries. I am a lover of anything strawberry and eat anything I can get my hands on with this delicious fruit, so I was excited to be a part of this great review. In talking with Sara from Shari's Berries, I got to choose a product from there vast line and what caught my eye in particular was the Full Dozen of Peanut Butter Berries. Along with my love of strawberries, peanut butter ranks right up there at the top of my list and these not only looked delicious but sounded amazing. Upon mentioning this to hubby, he got a weird look on his face, thinking this might not be a good combination. I was willing to give it a shot and could not wait for them to get here. I didn't have to wait long because by the time I had notified Shari's Berries with my choice, they were here less than a week later. When I received my box, I had to open them up and take a look and let me tell you this picture on their website did not do the actual product justice, these berries were BIG and I could smell the peanut butter. They were also beautiful, almost TOO beautiful to eat. Some were dipped in chocolate with a peanut butter drizzle, some were dipped in white chocolate with a peanut butter drizzle, some dipped in nuts...well you get the picture right? We had soccer practice the night that my Shari's Berries arrived, so we had to wait until we got home. It didn't take long for hubby and I to grab a couple after showers, getting the kids dressed and ready for bed. Neither one of the girls like strawberries, so they weren't interested, which is a shame because these berries are sweet, juicy and absolutely divine! I of course love white chocolate, so I went for those, while the hubby grabbed the chocolate and chocolate with nuts. He's not a huge fan of strawberries, but will eat them once in a while. He bit into in and said how juicy this strawberry was from any other he has ever had and I most definitely had to agree. This is by far the BEST strawberry that I have ever tasted and I loved the white chocolate and peanut butter flavor to go along with the fruit, it made it definitely distinctive! These tasty morsels came in a beautiful box with a cute ribbon and would be THE perfect Mother's Day gift. With Berries and More,who wouldn't love a box of Chocolate Covered Strawberries for Mom or another unique gift? I was definitely impressed and would recommend these berries from Shari's Berries to everyone and anyone...so good!

Peanut butter not your thing? Shari's Berries provides you with so many options! Milk chocolate, white chocolate, nuts, chocolate chips, dark chocolate, sprinkles, and more, you can co through and pick out your favorites. They also have many other gifts like cookies, hand dipped brownie pops, hand dipped caramel apples, hand dipped cherries, cakes, and truffles. Shari's Berries has also partnered with Pro Flowers so you can send Mom strawberries and flowers, the best of both worlds! Head over HERE to check out everything that they have to offer, you will be amazed and drooling at the selection! Also you may enter the code BERRYGOOD at the checkout to receive 15% off your orders.

The GIVEAWAY-

The generous folks at Shari's Berries would love to give one of my lucky Mommy2TwoGirls readers a $50 gift code to use at their online store to get your Mom something good or maybe something for yourself! Thanks Shari's Berries!

MAIN ENTRY-Mandatory and must be done before any extra entries.

Head on over to Shari's Berries and let me know what you would spend your $50 on.

Also let me know what is the best Mother's Day(or Father's Day) gift that you have ever gotten. (Both must be answered for your main entry to be counted, thanks!)

EXTRA ENTRIES-Please list a separate comment for each entry. Also make sure that your email address is included or in your Blogger profile, so that I have a way to contact you if you win.

*Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect(top right corner)

*Follow me on Twitter (furygirl3132) and tweet about this giveaway (you may tweet once a day for another entry into the giveaway.

*Subscribe to me via RSS Feed

*Subscribe to my email updates (2 entries)

*Like Shari's Berries on Facebook HERE

*Follow Shari's Berries on Twitter HERE

*Grab my button and add it to your sidebar or blogroll (2 entries)

*Friend me on Facebook (Eloise Bowen Carlson)

*Follow me on Networked Blogs

*Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Shari's Berries and me (5 entries)

*Purchase anything from Shari's Berries (10 entries)

Giveaway will end Tuesday 5/17 at 7pm EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified by email as well as posted here on my blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Open to US residents ONLY! Special thanks to Shari's Berries for sponsoring this giveaway. GOOD LUCK!

Disclosure-I received a dozen Peanut Butter Berries from Shari's Berries in exchange for writing this review. I abide by all FTC rules and regulations. The words expressed in this review are my own with additional information and images coming from the Shari's Berries website. I received no monetary compensation. No purchase is necessary to enter and void where prohibited by law.

Tuesday Blog Hops

2011-05-03T11:55:00.000-04:00

Good morning! Usually I am not home on Tuesday to do blog hops, my work schedule is Mondays and Tuesday, but today is a rare occasion, so here is your Tuesday Blog Hops! Also notice there is a tasty new giveaway for Michael Season's Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, make sure to check it out. Working on another tasty giveaway that should be up today, be on the lookout! Have a wonderful days friend and remember our country at this time.

God Bless The USA

2011-05-02T21:13:00.002-04:00

Michael Season's Kettle Cooked Potato Chip Review & Giveaway

2011-05-02T21:04:00.000-04:00

Potato Chips..one of my guilty pleasure snacks. I love all flavors: Cheddar & Sour Cream, Barbecue, Original just to name a few. To me, there's nothing better than hanging outside with the family munching on a few potato chips with maybe a little ranch dip or french onion dip. Once we start munching before too long we realize the bag is gone. Some potato chips out there are no so good for you, filled with trans fats, sodium, etc. There are remarkably some healthier options to allow you to eat the foods that you crave. I was honored to have the opportunity to work with a company that I have worked with on two other occasions: Michael Season's. Michael Seasons motto: Feel Good Snacking and let me tell you if all food could taste THIS good I would definitely always feel good about everything I eat.

I was sent a variety of Michael Season's NEW Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, and boy not only was I excited but my whole family was excited. My hubby went for the Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar flavor first. Me I'm not a huge Salt and Vinegar chip kind of person, once in a while I have to buy some for the hubby, but around our house he is the only one that eats them. I would have figured he would go for the Jalapeno Kettle Cooked Chips first. So as he sat down with the bag of Sea Salt and Vinegar chips, I could definitely tell that he liked them. I asked him if I could have at least one so I could write up my review and that was pretty much all I got. Over the past couple of nights, he finished up the bag. Upon asking what his opinion of them were, he said that were very good, the flavor was not overly done with vinegar like some of the other chips that he has had, they were light and crispy and probably the best Salt and Vinegar chips that he has ever had. My girls and I dug into the Honey Barbecue Kettle Cooked Potato Chips and I was so pleased with this product. These chips were beyond crispy and crunchy, which is exactly how I liked my chips. The Honey Barbecue flavor was amazing, not too spicy and not too sweet. I have tried A LOT of different barbecue flavored chips, some good and some not so good. I really enjoyed these chips the best because of the combination of flavor and freshness. We also received Jalapeno flavor, which hubby thoroughly enjoyed as well as the Unsalted and Lightly Salted varieties, which both taste great by themselves or with dip. I love that all of these chips are not greasy like some other chips that I have eaten, so I don't feel at all guilty about eating them.

Natural Snacks LLC is a leading manufacturer of natural snacks with a focus on potato chips, puffed snacks, and tortilla chips. The company was formed with the merger of Michael Seasons's and Mexi-Snax, two leading family-owned businesses with roots in the natural foods market. Over the past twenty years, Michael Season's and Mexi-Snax have been committed to earning the trust and respect of the natural foods consumer by offering high-quality, great-tasting, good for you snacks.

The Season's Snacks promise:

*All natural ingredients

*No preservatives

*No artificial colorings

*No artificial flavorings

*No hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils

*No MSG

*Wheat Free & Gluten Free

*40% Less Fat & Low Sodium

Michael Season's Kettle Cooked Potato Chips are available in 5oz and 2oz bags as well as 100 calorie size bags.

Natural Snacks LLC just doesn't stop at Potato Chips, they have a variety of Baked Chips, Cheddar Cheese Curls (which I LOVE!), Cheese Puffs, Baked Puffs and Curls, and Thin & Crispy Potato Chips. To check out all of their great products and more information about their innovative company, please head over HERE.

THE GIVEAWAY-

A great Michael Season's prize pack including a reusable tote, chip clip, Michael Season's Organic T-Shirt, and one bag of each flavor of Michael Season's Kettle Cooked Potato Chips-Jalapeno,Unsalted,Lightly Salted, Honey Barbecue, and Sea Salt & Vinegar.

MAIN ENTRY-Mandatory and must be done before any extra entries.

Tell me what is your favorite salty or sweet snack as well as the flavor of Michael Season's Kettle Cooked Potato Chips that you are most excited to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES-Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Also make sure that your email address is either visible in your comments or Blogger profile, so I have a way to contact you if you win.

*Follow my blog via GFC-leave your username

*Follow me on Twitter (@furygirl3132) and tweet (You may do this once daily)

*Follow me on Networked Blogs

*Friend me on Facebook (Eloise Bowen Carlson)

*Subscribe to me via RSS feed

*Subscribe to my email updates (2 entries)

*Follow Natural Snacks LLC on Twitter HERE

*Like Natural Snacks LLC on Facebook HERE

*Grab my button and add it to your sidebar or blogroll (3 entries)

*Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Michael Season's and I (5 entries)

*Purchase anything from Natural Snacks LLC (10 entries)

Giveaway will end on Monday 5/16 at 7pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random via random.org and notified by email as well as posted here on my blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Open to US residents ONLY! Special thanks to Natural Snacks LLC/Michael Season's for sponsoring this giveaway! GOOD LUCK!

Disclosure-I received a sample box of chips from Michael Season's in exchange for my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation for this review and abide by all FTC rules and regulations. The words expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way. Additional information and images provided by the Natural Snacks LLC/Michael Season's website. No purchase necessary to win, void where prohibited by law.

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-4/30-5/6

2011-04-29T21:39:00.000-04:00

Hope you are having a great weekend so far! Do you have any good giveaways going on at your blog right now that you want to post? Come across any giveaways that you would like to share? Post them here today and all week on the Mommy2TwoGirls Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky!

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

This morning I woke up at 4:30am and grabbed my blanket off the bed to make my way out to the living room. I turned on the TV (I had the channel set from last night) and eagerly started to watch the guests coming into Westminster Abbey in anticipation of The Royal Wedding. I have been looking forward to this all week. My husband got up as he usually does to go to work and on his way out the door at a little after 5am he told me to have fun. It was funny, over dinner last night we got into a discussion about Kate and William and hubby seemed genuinely interested. I was thinking if he didn't have to work, he may have watched it with me. A part of me wondered, why am I up so early on my day off and what on earth is such a big deal about this wedding besides the price tag of course. The big deal for me was watching a bit of history in the making at the same time thinking it IS Princess Diana's beloved son. Princess Diana was an important woman in our history. I remember watching a little of her wedding although I don't remember a whole lot as I was only 8 years old. I also remember watching her funeral and her two precious boys following her casket, with their heads bowed down and how heartbreaking it truly was to watch. With all of the devastation in this world lately with wars and forces of nature, it felt good to be able to watch a happy and momentous occasion and forget about the grief and hard times even if it was just for a few hours.

As I watched Prince William and Prince Harry head off to Westminster Abbey, I felt so happy for William. He looked so handsome in his military uniform as did Harry. Of course, he looked nervous, but anxious and happy at the same time. Watching the numerous people head off such as Kate's Mom and brother, Prince Charles and Camilla and of course the Queen herself, I was anxiously anticipating seeing Kate. I am not really all that hip on fashion, to be honest I don't care a whole lot about dresses, shoes and purses, but I couldn't wait to see her dress. She looked absolutely stunning as she stepping out of the Queen's classic car. Her train which was 9 ft (compared to Diana's 25 feet) was in my opinion just the right length and she looked beautiful to say the least. As she entered Westminster Abbey, she looked nervous as any bride would be, but the pressure of 1,900 people there plus all the millions watching around the world appeared to get to her. Her father asked her if she was ready and all she could do was nod. As they headed down the aisle, I wondered if she was going to be able to keep it together and as she got closer to William, I figured she would start crying, you could see the tears welling up in her eyes. But true to her character, she held it all in. The pivotal moment for me was that William had his back toward her, he didn't want to look at her until she got up to him. It was Harry that turned around and looked at Kate before saying something to his brother, I can only imagine him saying something like "She looks beautiful" or something to that fact. Once Kate finally got up to Kate and William could see his bride for himself could you read his lips as he whispered to Kate "You look beautiful". The wedding itself was simple, elegant and full of love. I was happy to be one of the millions of people to witness this historic event. The choir was magnificent, the building was amazing. My oldest got up at 6:30am, only to come out and tell me that Kate looked pretty and the Abbey was sweet.

After the wedding was finally finished after an hour and Kate and William signed the wedding certificate and began walking down the long aisle out to the horse driven carriage did I finally notice the look of relief that this part of it was over. As they got into the carriage and headed off, they looked so happy, they couldn't stop smiling. As they arrived at Buckingham Palace for what they called a wedding breakfast (even though it was lunch) watching all of these people who had stood in line and camped out for days just to get a glimpse, heading off to see the new Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William's famous balcony kiss. Not only one kiss but TWO! Plans for later include a three course meal and then a party hosted by Prince Harry before the two head off for a honeymoon to only they know where.

I can only wish Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Catherine a long and happy life together filled with love. They are the perfect couple, so beautiful and graceful and have their whole lives ahead of them. Someday they will be King and Queen of England, but for now they are newlyweds with so much to give. Best of luck. Today is a special day..never to be forgotten.

Social Parade Friday

2011-04-29T11:31:00.000-04:00

Friday Blog Hops

2011-04-29T11:02:00.002-04:00

New Posts and Big Giveaways Coming Starting Tomorrow!

2011-04-28T21:11:00.000-04:00

Good evening all! Well..it has taken me a while and a lot of hard work, but I have some great reviews/giveaways coming up! I have been in contact with some great companies, and have been testing some products the past couple of weeks and now am getting ready to write up those reviews and offer you all some fun giveaways that are sure to please. Tomorrow is a big day filled with lots of posts including my take on the event of the year: The Royal Wedding. I will be up bright and early tomorrow morning to watch this fun event and can't wait to post about this as well as Friday Blogs Hops and hopefully a couple of giveaways. I have been working hard to try and get this blog going again and am excited to bring you more content on the things I love! So stay tuned...and have a great evening!

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-4/23-4/30

2011-04-22T21:28:00.000-04:00

Good Friday and Happy Earth Day! Also Happy Easter, hope everything is going well for all of you! We have a soccer game tomorrow afternoon before having our Easter dinner with my hubby's family then an evening hockey game. Easter breakfast before church service on Sunday and then a relaxing afternoon and evening at home before braving work next week. Hope you all have some great plans with your family and friends this wonderful holiday.
It is that all important time again. Do you have some giveaways or a blog event going on at your blog right now? Run across some giveaways on other blogs that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week on the Mommy2TwoGirls Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky!

Friday Blog Hops

2011-04-22T10:09:00.001-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-04-21T15:21:00.000-04:00

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-4/16-4/23

2011-04-15T21:21:00.000-04:00

Do you have some giveaways going over on your blog right now? Run across some great giveaways that you would like to share with everyone? Link them up here today and all week here at Mommy2TwoGirls giveaway linky! Have a wonderful weekend!

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-4/9-4/16

2011-04-08T21:29:00.000-04:00

Good weekend! It's that all important time again! Do you have some great giveaways or maybe a blog party or hop going on at your blog right now? Run across some fun giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week on my Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky! Have a wonderful weekend!

Social Parade Friday

2011-04-08T17:26:00.000-04:00

Friday Blog Hops

2011-04-08T17:09:00.000-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-04-07T10:28:00.000-04:00

Pirates of the Caribbean:On Strange Tides Trailer

2011-04-06T15:34:00.000-04:00

Are you a big Pirates of the Caribbean fan? Excited to be able to check out the new movie? I can honestly say I haven't watched any of the other Pirates of the Caribbean movies but after watching this exclusive trailer, I must say that I might have to watch the others just so I can head off to the theater to see this one. I love Johnny Depp, this was the role that he was meant to play as he returns as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Here is the exclusive trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean:On Strange Tides, hitting all theaters May 20, 2011.

This movie is also being released in Disney Digital 3D.

Genre: Comedy-Adventure

Rating: TBD

US Release Date: May 20, 2011

Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R McNally, Astrid Berges Frisbey, Sam Claffin, and Geoffrey Rush

Director: Rob Marshall

Executive Producers: Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, John DeLuca, Barry Waldman, Ted Elliott, Terry Rosio

Based on the characters created by: Terry Elliott and Terry Rosio and Stuart Beattie and Jay Wolpert

Suggested by the novel by: Tim Powers

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise—this time in Disney Digital 3D™. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in an action-packed adventure. Crossing paths with the enigmatic Angelica (Penélope Cruz), he’s not sure if it’s love—or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the “Queen Anne’s Revenge,” the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past. The international cast includes franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the vengeful Captain Hector Barbossa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack’s longtime comrade Joshamee Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid.

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth when a woman from his past (Penélope Cruz) forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

Inkgrabber.com

2011-04-06T14:58:00.001-04:00

If you are like me, you do a lot of printing. Whether it be pictures, coupons, coloring pages like I do for the girls, or other information that you find on the internet, it seems that my printer is always going. With that, I go through A LOT of ink. I am always looking for affordable places to find the ink that I need for my printer, but sometimes I can't always find the right cartridges at an affordable price. Well look no more because now there is a great site called Inkgrabber.com that specializes in all kinds of ink for all kinds of printers. Whether you are looking for laser jet cartridges, copier ink, laser toner cartridges and more, you will find what you need at Inkgrabber.com. They even have Canon Printer Ink.

I was impressed with the selection for sure as I was browsing the site. I found my ink for my Hp printer at an affordable $8.00 a cartridge which is by far the cheapest that I have found. Inkgrabber.com carries an extensive amount of printer supplies for most printers, fax machines, copiers, postal supply printers and multifunction units. They continue to grow and expand even through all of the other competitive companies out there today. Canon Ink and Canon Ink Jet Cartridges are among a very popular brand that Inkgrabber.com has to offer. They are also offering on their site right now 10% off any order over $55 (excluding some inks and toners). You can also check them out on Facebook for daily deals as well as Twitter. Many people agree that the variety as well as the product itself will have you coming back to Inkgrabber.com for all of your ink needs! Check them out, you will be glad that you did!

7 Common Mistakes First-Time Make

2011-04-06T12:01:00.000-04:00

By Lisa Pecos

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs you will ever have, and no stage is more difficult than the first few months with your first child. It is easy to be led astray by misguided assumptions and poorly thought-out plans, and it is practically impossible to completely avoid making any mistakes. Parenting is after all a learning process, but you can avoid some of the most common mistakes simply by being aware of them in advance. Here are seven of the most common issues that arise for first-time parents.

1. Not sleeping

Everyone knows that new parents are commonly sleep deprived, but it does not have to be so bad. Especially if you and your spouse can find ways to share the load and balance your time, then you should be able to get close to your usual amount of sleep every day. Granted, the sleep may be patchy and at unconventional times, but you can get it if you try.

2. Unrealistic time expectations

Many new parents like to think that they will still have plenty of free time when the baby is sleeping or entertaining herself, but you might be surprised by how much of your time is occupied by baby-related tasks even when the baby is asleep. Yes, you should be able to preserve at least some of your personal time, but it may not be as much as you expect.

3. Believing everything you hear

There is a lot of parenting advice out there, and while most of it is harmless, the advice-givers are not always consistent in what they say. Rather than listening to and believing everything you see, try to formulate your own philosophy about parenting, and then listen only to those experts whose beliefs are in line with yours. Also keep in mind that some so-called “parenting experts” are not all they claim to be. Listen to your doctor first and foremost.

4. Spouse neglect

There is no getting around the fact that your baby will be the center of attention in your household, and not just for the first few weeks or months. Parents have to be willing to give up much of themselves in order to care for a child, and this will last until the child is old enough to be independent. For now, try not to let your child get in the way of your connection with your spouse. Find time to talk, to snuggle up without the baby, and to keep your sex life going. Otherwise, bad feelings may develop, and this can affect the entire household.

5. Over-worrying

Many new parents spend so much time reading and worrying about all the things that can wrong with a new child that they become all but convinced that bad things are inevitable. Any time you suspect that something may be wrong with your child, it is best to listen to your intuition and take the child to your doctor as soon as possible. But try not to let your paranoia project problems that are not there, or else you will just make yourself crazy.

6. Over-spending

Although we do not like to admit it, much of what we buy for a newborn baby is more for the parents’ benefit than the child’s. A newborn baby does not need much more than loving parents and a place to sleep, so you do not have to deplete your bank account in preparation for the birth. Get the things you need, and do not forget that you can get a lot of the non-necessities after the baby is born.

7. Losing perspective

First-time parents tend to get wrapped up in the life-changing nature of the event, and as a result they risk seeing the birth of their baby as a much more momentous event than it actually is. Of course, it is one of the most important events in your life, but it is not such a big deal outside of your family. Try to keep things in perspective by reminding yourself that babies are born every day, and do not take it personally when others do not share your wild enthusiasm for your child.

Lisa Pecos, a wife and well accomplished writer whom firmly believes in natural colic treatment for infants. She has authored numerous articles in Parenting Journals on the topics of toddlers, kids and teenagers.

Healthy Parenting:Nutrition and Exercise During Pregnancy

2011-04-04T19:09:00.000-04:00

By Lisa Pecos

Most adults can get away with not eating as well as they should or not exercising the optimal amount. But when it comes to pregnancy, all the things that you have heard about the importance of good health become much more urgent. As the cliché goes, you are eating for two now, and everything you do must be thought of in terms of how it will affect your baby’s development. Of course, it is not an emergency if you have an occasional dessert or miss a day of exercise, but pregnancy requires increased vigilance against bad habits.

What to Eat, and What to Avoid

The key to a smooth pregnancy is to have a healthy, balanced diet that contains items from every food group. But because pregnant women have unique health needs, there are a few types of foods that are particularly recommended.

* Whole grains: Doctors recommend that pregnant women consume six to nine servings of whole grains per day. This helps maximize your energy during these exhausting months, and the vitamins provided by things like whole-grain cereals, bread, and pasta provide some of the most crucial vitamins during pregnancy.

* Vegetables and fruits: Pregnant women should have at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and it is best to emphasize variety rather than eating the same types of fruits and vegetables over and over. To get your maximum intake of vitamins and minerals, focus on the most healthy items, and try to branch out into types of fruits and vegetables that you may have never liked before.

* Protein sources: Meat, fish, beans, and eggs are just a few of the foods that provide crucial protein for your baby’s growth. Even if you usually do not eat much meat, pregnancy is a good time to expand your horizons.

* Dairy products: Dairy products provide the calcium your baby needs to develop strong bones. Yogurt is best, but all kinds of pure dairy products are good.

Pinpointing which types of food to avoid is a little more difficult. Alcohol is completely out of the question, as are tobacco and other types of drugs. It is also best to avoid foods that contain too many unhealthy chemicals. In your produce selection, go with organic products as much as possible.

Meanwhile, it is also best to drink at least 6 8-ounce glasses of water per day. And if you are worried that you are not getting enough nutrition, you can supplement your diet with vitamins. However, keep in mind that the vitamins and minerals in fresh food are usually of a higher quality and easier for the body to absorb.

Exercise during Pregnancy

Studies have shown that pregnant women who exercise produce healthier babies, but this does not mean that you have to wear yourself out with strenuous workouts. Aim for around two and a half hours of exercise per week, with a few 30- to 45-minute workouts spread throughout the week. Not only will this benefit your baby, but it will also help ease aches and pains while preparing you to get back on track after pregnancy.

While exercise is an indispensable part of any healthy pregnancy, it is important to do it in a safe manner. For pregnant women, it is much more important to start slowly, take frequent breaks, stay hydrated, and avoid overdoing it. Avoid high-impact exercises or activities that can result in falling, and trust your body when it tells you it is time to stop.

Pregnancy Weight Gain: How Much?

Recommended weight gain during pregnancy depends upon your body mass index (BMI) prior to becoming pregnant. For a woman of normal size and weight, a gain of 25 to 30 points is optimal. For underweight women, the recommended gain is a little higher, and it is smaller for women who are overweight or obese. In all cases, the weight should be gained gradually, with most of it occurring in the last three months of pregnancy. Talk to your doctor for specific weight-gain recommendations pertaining to your body type and state of health.

Lisa Pecos is a very well known writer on natural remedies and natural approaches to family health. Many of her articles are recommended by parents which are used and valued by families all over the internet. Learn more at www.BabyCareJournals.com

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-4/2-4/9

2011-04-01T20:16:00.000-04:00

Good evening! After a week off last week, Saturday Spectacular is back. Do you have some giveaways running on your blog? Run across some giveaways that you want to share? Link them up here today and all week here at Mommy2TwoGirls!

Five Question Friday

2011-04-01T20:05:00.000-04:00

1.) Have you ever had surgery?
Yes, I have had two c-sections, my appendix taken out and a pullup removed when I was a kid.

2.) Ever ride in an ambulance?
No, but I have sat in one for a little but after I got in a car accident.

3.) How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?
I am pretty panicked because I am by far a calm person in most situations.

4.) Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?
I have several little flower gardens around my yard and this year the girls and I are starting our own veggie garden complete with carrots, green beans and cucumbers.

5.) When did you move out of your parents home?
I lived with my grandmother and mother for most all of my life and finally moved out when I was almost 21, which is when I got married.

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

2011-04-01T11:16:00.001-04:00

WELCOME! If you have found your way here from the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by those great ladies over at 5 Minutes For Mom, welcome and thanks so much for stopping by. I had the pleasure of joining this HUGE party last year and I am excited to join the party once again this year. It is a party for the blogging world where you can win some fun prizes and participate in different activities all the while checking out some new blogs and making lots of new friends. I had so many wonderful visitors last year and I hope to have many more this year as well. If you are a new visitor to Mommy2TwoGirls, please leave me a comment, I would love to come over and visit you too!

A little about Mommy2TwoGirls-
The name comes from obviously being mommy to two beautiful girls ages 8 and 2.

Our 8 year old is in 3rd grade, loves to paint, color, and draw and plays soccer which will be starting soon. She is into Hannah Montana and loves music. Our 2 year old is "Miss Independent" and loves her cartoons, dancing and singing. One of her favorites artists is Usher.

I am a part time working mom, working a couple days a week and being a SAHM for the rest of the week. My girls keep me busy for sure! I have also been married for 15 years to my hard working, love of my life. Mommy2TwoGirls started out as an outlet to talk about my family and my love of entertainment, sports and gossip back in June of 2009, but rapidly grew into something so much more. Blogging is a great outlet to let your emotions out as well as meet new people that share similar interests as you do. I absolutely love checking out new blogs!

So grab some cake, maybe a few chips and a nice cool drink and join the party! I am so glad to have you here! Feel free to follow me via GFC, Facebook, or Twitter!

GirlGoneMom.com is giving away a $25 SUBWAY gift card and I have entered to win it. Check out her UBP11 post here.

Friday Blog Hops

2011-04-01T10:51:00.000-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-03-31T13:35:00.000-04:00

Social Parade Friday

2011-03-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

Friday Blog Hops

2011-03-25T13:28:00.000-04:00

Thursday Blog Hops

2011-03-24T11:29:00.000-04:00

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-3/18-3/25

2011-03-18T20:59:00.002-04:00

Good Friday/Saturday! It's that all important time again. Do you have some great giveaways going on over at your blog right now? Run across any giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week on the Saturday Spectacular Giveaway Linky at Mommy2TwoGirls! Tell your friends about my linky as well, I would love to make this HUGE this week! Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

Social Parade Friday

2011-03-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

Friday Blog Hops

2011-03-18T10:56:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday all, hope your weekend is going great so far. Been struggling the past couple of days with hubby being sick, the oldest finishing up being sick, little one barely got sick..just a little cough and me..well so far so good. It's that time of year when the weather changes. One day it will be in the 20's, the next day it will be up toward the 60's and then back down to the 40's like today. Typical Michigan weather! So glad Spring will be here because I for one am tired of the cold and being cooped up in the house all winter. Little one loves to be outside and we are going to get her a new bike this weekend. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and now onto the hops!

Prayers for Japan

2011-03-15T19:39:00.001-04:00

By now I'm sure you have all seen the devastation and sheer destruction of the earthquake and tsunami that has rocked Japan to it's core. I have been watching the news programs and news channels since Friday, for some reason I just can't turn away. Pictures of young children and babies with their parents, their innocence in not quite understanding what is happening. Stories of unbelievable rescues even after four days with no food and water, 500,000 people homeless living in shelters, hospitals, and schools. The grocery stores rationing what little food they have left and running out. Pictures of houses being completely washed out and nothing left but debris and cars left in the tsunami's wake. I was just watching the ABC News with Diane Sawyer and it was showing her walking through town with Japanese soldiers looking for survivors and going from house to house. Some of these houses still had cups and bowls sitting on shelves that hadn't fallen off and were unbroken as well as a pile of slippers sitting at the door, yet the devastation was all around. Desperate American parents looking for their children who spent their time teaching young Japanese students at the many schools or maybe even being students themselves. Three elderly women being pulled out of their car after many many hours of no food and water, but they were saved. Now the Japanese are having to worry about the possibility of a nuclear meltdown. These are the images that we have seen on a daily basis and God bless the reporters, the military, the 50 workers that were left behind at the nuclear power plant to try and save so many others. It is so hard to see these pictures and videos of this awful natural disaster One of the miraculous stories that I just found is in the video below. Please take a look.

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I remember all too well the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Indonesia. I am a person that pays a lot of attention to the news, and these stories were devastating. I could never imagine what these people are going through and wish that there is something that I could do to help. There are several wonderful organizations to donate your money to to help the people of Japan get the food, water and necessities that they need. Here are a few of the links:

http://www.globalgiving.org/

http://www.unicefusa.org/news/releases/unicef-humanitarian-aid-japan-earthquake-tsunami.html

http://www.mercycorps.org/

http://salvationarmyusa.org/

https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?idb=0&5052.donation=form1&df_id=5052

Please consider giving whatever amount you can at this time. This is not a sponsored post, this is just a concerned American wanting to help out many people in a time of great need. So may people are displaced and have no where to go, they have lost husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and especially their children to this terrible disaster. Words and pictures can not explain to all of us what is truly going on, the fear, the sadness and so much more that we can't see. Everyday the images become more and more heartbreaking as well as disturbing and it just makes me feel so helpless to see the Japanese people go through this. Hawaii and California also suffered from the tsunami, but the damage was far less than what Japan is going through. Still days later, they are suffering over 6.0 aftershocks and the severe threat of radiation into the air. My heart just aches. Even if you have $2 or $5 to give in the relief efforts, every little bit helps. I remember when 9/11 happened, my hubby and I took all the change we had in the house and a $5 bill down to our local American Red Cross, they were thrilled with the money to help and we felt good about donating. God Bless the people of Japan, please pray for them, because they need all they help we can give.

Newborn Sleep Patterns

2011-03-15T16:03:00.002-04:00

Newborn Sleep Patterns

By Jamell Andrews

If you are a new parent, you have probably already realized that your baby needs to sleep a lot. Parents of infants tend to complain quite a bit that they are sleep deprived because they are up all night long with their babies. While this is certainly a normal pattern for parents of newborns, there are some steps you can take to help your child sleep for longer periods of time without waking up constantly.

Understanding infants’ sleep requirements

Sleep cycles for babies are significantly shorter than sleep cycles for adults. Even though you should expect your newborn to sleep anywhere from 14 to 18 hours each day during his first week at home, these hours are not consecutive, nor are they consistent.

The average baby does not stay asleep for longer than two or three hours at a time, with some of them managing to sleep for as much as four hours straight. This means that you, as a parent, wind up losing significant amounts of sleep every night as you tend to your restless child.

The sleep cycles of babies involves much more time spent in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep than adults do. This type of sleep is quite a bit lighter than other types, and as such it tends to be more easily disrupted. This is why people tend to tread softly when they are in the vicinity of a sleeping baby.

The excessive amounts of REM sleep are absolutely essential for the healthy developments that occur in an infant’s brain. Fortunately, by the time an infant is 6 to 8 weeks old, he will start to sleep for shorter periods of time during the day, and will stay asleep for longer periods at night. Most babies will not be able to sleep through the night until they are at least 3 months old, and in some cases the magic age is 6 months.

Establishing positive sleep habits

A great way to gradually get your baby adapted to normal, healthy sleep patterns is to teach him the difference between day and night. While this does require some time and patience on your part, it can be done successfully. In fact, you can begin teaching your child when he is about 2 weeks old.

To have success with this, you will need to keep your baby engaged with activity during the day. Let plenty of light into your home, and do not worry too much about keeping sounds to a minimum. At night, you should not engage your baby in too much activity, and try turning the lights low and keeping noises to a minimum. After a bit of time, he will learn the difference between night and day, and learn that nighttime is for sleeping.

It can also help your child to adjust to more normal sleep patterns if you learn to recognize the signs indicating that he is tired. When you notice these, put him down for a nap. Even if he does not fall asleep right away, he will very likely be sleeping in a short amount of time. Try not to keep your infant awake well past the point when he becomes tired or it will be more difficult for him to fall asleep.

About Jamell: Jamell Andrews authors many insightful articles on parents and childern. She is a firm believer in the many uses of natural remedies for colic.

Tuesday Blog Hops

2011-03-15T14:17:00.000-04:00

Pretty Neat Review and Giveaway

2011-03-14T20:46:00.000-04:00

I have always thought of myself as being organized around my house. I find myself cleaning everyday whether it's just everyday cleaning like wiping down counters or tables or extensive cleaning like vacuuming or dusting. Organization, well, at times I am, other times I just like to put things away so I don't have to see it. I have been told that I have OCD because I like to have the house clean pretty much at all times, yet things like papers, coupons, tools and other things just get thrown in drawers. It is then that the hubby gets frustrated when he goes to open a drawer to look for something and sees a mess. I love my house to look nice, but my organizational skills can definitely use some help.

I was excited yet apprehensive to be able to review a book called Pretty Neat: The Buttoned-Up Way to Get Organized & Let Go of Perfection. This book was written by the two creators of the buttoned up Organizational Products that are absolutely fantastic and helpful, Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch. I don't read too many books about organizing because I don't want to be told how to do things around my house. I have always been someone who likes to do things my way, that way I know where everything is and what needs to be done. I know that I needed some help especially help with keeping my cupboards, books, and desk organized. I also have a hard time with the girls rooms keeping them neat with their toys, coloring books and so much more. It seems that at times, we have a lot of clutter around our house and I definitely was intrigued by reading this book. I have NEVER read any kind of organizational book, but I read this one cover to cover and found a lot of great tips and methods that are simple and definitely would make anyone's life a lot easier for keeping their home neat and tidy.

The Pretty Neat book has organization tips for not only home but at work as well as taking charge of you to-do lists and schedules. It teaches you how to get organized for traveling with your kids, helping your kids help in cleaning up and even how to master a home cooked meal. This is all just for starters, there is plenty more great wisdom in the book as well. I have learned so much to get my house in complete order. I often found myself jotting down notes in a notebook to make sure that I didn't forget a certain tip when I came across it. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who needs a little help organizing your home, office, garage, or your household in general. I can't wait to get started!

Want your own copy of Pretty Neat:The Buttoned-Up Way To Get Organized & Let Go of Perfection?

MAIN ENTRY-Mandatory and must be done before any extra entries. Please make sure that your email address is included in your comments so that I may contact you if you win.

Share the area of your home or life that has been the biggest source of your organizational stress.

EXTRA ENTRIES-Please list a separate comment for each.

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Giveaway will end on Monday March 21 at 7pm EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified by email as well as posted here on my blog. Winner will have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Open to US residents ONLY! Special thanks to Global Influence, buttoned up, Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch for providing the book for review and giveaway. GOOD LUCK!
Disclosure-I received no monetary compensation for this review, only a free book in exchange for my honest opinions. I comply with all FTC rules and regulations.

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-3/12-3/18

2011-03-12T07:42:00.000-05:00

Good Saturday morning! It's that time of the week again. Do you have some giveaways going on at you blog right now? Come across some great giveaways on other blogs that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week on the Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky. Have a wonderful weekend!

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-3/5-3/12

2011-03-05T08:02:00.000-05:00

Good Saturday morning! It's that all important time again! Do you have great giveaways on your blog going on right now? Run across any giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week on the Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky!

Five Question Friday

2011-03-04T15:34:00.000-05:00

1. Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school?

No, I can honestly say that I haven't ever forgotten either one of the kids. I have been late picking the oldest up from school once or twice though.

2. Where did you go on your very first date? (Like…first first, not first with your spouse or current significant other!)

First "date" if that's what you could call it was a camping trip with a boy that lived just down the street from me. OK so it was more like I met up with him in the middle of the night and and we hung out until the middle of the morning.

3. What’s your “silly” fear? (We’re not talking water and heights.)

It might be silly to some, but I am deathly afraid of mice, even dead ones. I hate to see them or ever have them around and if I know they have been somewhere, I will flip out. I hate mice!

4. Confrontation: do you cause it, deal with is as it comes, or run far far away?

I run FAR FAR away!

5. Wood floors or carpet?

Carpet seeing as how that is what most of my house has!

Social Parade Friday

2011-03-04T09:04:00.002-05:00

Friday Blog Hopping

2011-03-04T09:03:00.000-05:00

Wednesday Random Thoughts

2011-03-02T19:49:00.000-05:00

Welcome to a new feature here at Mommy2TwoGirls! I always have lots of thoughts running through my head, whether it be life in general or news that I have heard on TV or seen on the internet, maybe some gossip that I have found in a magazine or heard on Entertainment Tonight. Whatever it is, I have random thoughts. So let me run some of these by you and have you comment!

*First off, let's start with the obvious big entertainment story: Charlie Sheen. He is what everyone seems to be talking about. Personally, I love Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men is one of my favorite shows. I kind of feel sorry for him in a way because we all really don't know for sure what is going on with him. Is he an alcoholic? Addicted to drugs? Addicted to porn or sex addict? Is he bi polar or maybe he has a mental problem? All of these have been theories on news journalists and everyone else, the bad thing is now that he got his kids taken away and refuses help. I heard someone say yesterday that he is following the same destructive path as Anna Nicole Smith and we all know what happened to her, unfortunately. I wish Charlie Sheen the best and hope that he will take his family's advice and seek help..before it's too late.

*Anyone watch the Oscars? Well I didn't but I heard that James Franco (who is very good looking by the way) didn't do such a good job as host. I personally can't sit through the Oscars, I know it's fun to watch what everybody is wearing and who is seen with who, but 4 hours? Congrats to Natalie Portman, I think she is a great actress. Am dying to see the Social Network, can't wait to get it through Netflix!

*Speaking of Netflix, any of you have it? I just subscribed to it last weekend and I am amazed at all of the possibilities. I have gotten several emails from them in the past to join, but have never been able to because I don't have a credit card. To find out that they now accept pay pal payments made it easier for me to join and now I can't imagine being without it. I am a couple of seasons behind on Desperate Housewives so I spent a few hours last weekend watching six episodes from last season. TV shows and movies, I will definitely be a Netfliz subscriber for a long time to come and would recommend it to everyone!

*Getting really bummed thinking about the upcoming NFL season not happening come September. It's all about money...why do people in this world have to be greedy?

*Tired of these rising gas prices! Last week we spent $60 to fill up our car twice..at $3.41 a gallon. Talk about more greed!

*Anyone watching American Idol? I'm not, I have a few episodes on the DVR, but haven't watched them yet. I think I have lost my interest in the show, although I love Steven Tyler. I think this show has finally run it's course.

*Survivor is on tonight..who are you rooting for? I am rooting for Boston Rob, love that guy!

*After a struggle the past couple of weeks, I am back on track to losing weight yet once again. I have hit the gym three days this week and have pushed my workout time to almost an hour. Feeling pretty good.

*Looking forward to spring and the warmer weather, tired of snow and being stuck in the house. Looking forward to the oldest daughter playing soccer, I even get to be an assistant coach this season.

Have a great evening!

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-2/26-3/5

2011-02-25T22:30:00.000-05:00

Do you have giveaways going on now on your blog? Run across any great giveaways that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week on the Saturday Spectacular giveaway linky!

Social Parade Blog Hop

2011-02-25T12:01:00.002-05:00

Friday Blog Hopping

2011-02-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday Spectacular-Link Up Your Giveaways-2/19-2/26

2011-02-19T07:57:00.000-05:00

Good Saturday morning! Sorry I am a little late in posting this, but it's that all important time again. Do you have one or more giveaways running on your blog or site right now? Been entering a lot of giveaways (like me), that you would like to share? Link them up here today and all week on the Saturday Spectacular Giveaway linky! Have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing (and entering) all of your great giveaways!

Five Question Friday

2011-02-18T15:55:00.003-05:00

1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?
Heavens no, at least not out. I sometimes wear the same sweats and tee two days in a row if I know I am going nowhere or that no one is coming over.

2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?
Definitely Indianapolis, Indiana..I have always wanted to live there (if this is indeed considered a large city). I know it's A LOT larger than where I live and my beloved Colts play there!

3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?

I will never fly on a plane ever, so I would guess that I would be driving.

4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?
Going through the whole house, room to room and cleaning EVERYTHING as well as getting those windows open and airing out the house from the winter.

5. What is the best book you have ever read?
Anything and everything written by Jackie Collins, I love her style of writing and have read every single one of her books.

I have been working the past couple of days getting a couple of new giveaways and new content as well as switching things up a little on the old blog. Before we get to the blog hopping I have a question for you. Besides the obvious reviews and giveaways, what is it that you would like to see on Mommy2TwoGirls, meaning what kind of content would most likely make you return or maybe tell your friends about? I am into making this blog bigger and better, but would love some input from you, my followers and readers, because it is you that makes this blog what is it for sure. Lately, I have been in a little funk and don't know which direction to go in. So with some ideas, I can get to work and put content that everyone wants to read. So please comment with what you would like to see, any and all ideas are welcome! Maybe you want recipes, or craft ideas, or maybe gossip and entertainment news. I am open to all ideas, so please comment often! Thanks for your help and have a wonderful day!

Eloise:)

Social Parade Blog Hop

2011-02-18T11:12:00.003-05:00

Friday Blog Hopping!

2011-02-18T11:10:00.000-05:00

Thursday Blog and Twitter Hopping and a Question

2011-02-17T11:22:00.002-05:00

Good Thursday morning! Hope things are going great for all of you. We are going through a little bit of a thaw here in Michigan, temp is 45 degrees at 9:00am and climbing up into the upper 50's to almost 60 for a day before dropping into the 30's for the weekend of course.
I have been working the past couple of days getting a couple of new giveaways and new content as well as switching things up a little on the old blog. Before we get to the blog hopping I have a question for you. Besides the obvious reviews and giveaways, what is it that you would like to see on Mommy2TwoGirls, meaning what kind of content would most likely make you return or maybe tell your friends about? I am into making this blog bigger and better, but would love some input from you, my followers and readers, because it is you that makes this blog what is it for sure. Lately, I have been in a little funk and don't know which direction to go in. So with some ideas, I can get to work and put content that everyone wants to read. So please comment with what you would like to see, any and all ideas are welcome! Maybe you want recipes, or craft ideas, or maybe gossip and entertainment news. I am open to all ideas, so please comment often! Thanks for your help and have a wonderful day!

Old El Paso Family Taco Night Review and Giveaway

2011-02-16T17:50:00.006-05:00

One of our favorite meals around my home is tacos and we have them at least twice a month if not more. The oldest loves tacos and amazingly can eat three of them when we have them! To me there is nothing better than having a get together with the family and having what we call a "taco bar", complete with all of the fixings: cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, olives, salsa and of course the meat. Making tacos is so easy not to mention a lot of fun! The girls really love loading up their tacos with all the veggies and goodies that they can stuff in those shells, we find that sometimes we have to get the bigger shells just to fit everything in them. The bonding that we do over our taco nights is second to none as well. We laugh, we talk about daily events, and cartoons or maybe even our plans, it's just an overall good time for everyone. Sometimes we always fell like we make the same dishes and serve the same foods over and over again, but taco night is always a permanent staple in our always busy schedule.

Why not set aside time at least once a month for your very own family taco night? You can do just this with Old El Paso! We have been using Old El Paso products for years and really love the flavor and variety that they have to offer. They offer a variety of seasonings, sides, sauces, and meal kits as simple solutions for a night of catching up with the family over a delicious taco dinner. I know that good conversations start with yummy tacos, we as a family have had some of the best! To satisfy your Mexican Style cravings, the Old El Paso line of products includes chiles (which make not only a great addition to your taco meat, but I have also tried them in my delicious Taco Bake Casserole), dinner kits (which include soft and hard shells in one box), dips and sides (Spanish Rice), enchilada sauce, refried beans, seasoning mixes, shells, taco sauce and salsa. The Old El Paso taco seasoning mix collection includes: Burrito, Cheesy Taco (a family favorite around my house), Chili, Fajita, Taco, Mild Taco, and even a seasoning with 40% less sodium. For a fun twist on taco night, be sure to try one of these delicious recipes:

*Double Layer Tacos- Layered taco shells and tortillas create the "double" in beef and bean stuffed tacos.

*Chicken Ranch Tacos- Need a new idea for a weeknight 30 minute dinner? Here's a twist on tacos using precooked chicken.

Let me tell you with all of the great Old El Paso products available, you can create so many dishes from enchiladas to burritos to tacos and fajitas, the possibilities are endless. Use your imagination and creativity to make those special dishes that your family will love!

To keep your family laughing at the dinner table, have some fun with El Tacodor, the world's only family taco night game. With El Tacodor, your family can share a special night at home by challenging one another to quick fire trivia, wordplay and pantomime. Visit www.ElTacodor.com today to download instructions, a scorecard, and a challenge sheet for even more fun on family taco night!

Want more great recipes, news, great tips and more? Visit Old El Paso HERE Take a minute to share family fiesta photos and videos from family taco night on the El Tacodor Family Spotlight.

GIVEAWAY-

One lucky Mommy2TwoGirls reader will win an Old El Paso Prize Pack like I received which includes:

*A Packet of Original Old El Paso Seasoning

*A Cactus shaped Chip & Dip Serving Dish (which is fantastic!)

*A set of 3 Fiesta Chili Pepper serving dishes AND

*A $10 gift card to purchase your taco fixings

MAIN ENTRY-Mandatory and must be done before any extra entries. Please make sure that your email address is included in your comments so that I have a way to contact you if you win.

Head on over to Old El Paso and let me know either something you learned, your favorite Old El Paso product, or a favorite recipe that you would like to try. (Do all 3 for three separate entries, one MUST be done for your first entry to count.)

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Giveaway will end on Wednesday 3/2 at 7PM EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and notified by email as well as posted here on my blog. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Open to US residents ONLY! Special thanks to Old El Paso and My Blog Spark for this great opportunity! GOOD LUCK!

Disclosure-I received no monetary compensation for this review, only free products provided to me by My Blog Spark and Old El Paso. All information was provided by My Blog Spark and Old El Paso as well. I abide by all FTC rules and regulations. The words expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way.

Sharing the Happiness

2011-02-16T17:36:00.000-05:00

How is it that you share your happiness on a daily basis?

Do you offer a stranger a smile or maybe a head nod as you are walking down the street or on a sidewalk as you pass them by?

Do you sing or hum a favorite song while you are a work and even though you're happy, you keep your co workers wondering just what is going on with you?

How about giving your kids a hug and completely catching them off guard?

Sharing happiness is something that we should all do on a daily basis. There are mornings when I wake up that I am in a fantastic mood and I jump out of bed, just eager to start the day. It could be as easy as making your kids a special batch of pancakes for breakfast, packing a lunch for your husband with a little note inside that says "I Love You", or doing something special for a co worker by taking them to lunch or bringing them a treat. I can tell you first hand, I have done all of these things and nothing makes me happier than spreading joy all around. We've all had bad days, I know first hand that I have had my share and I would come home and the hubby would smile at me and give me a hug or the kids would kiss me and say how happy they were to see me. Man, that is the best feeling in the world for sure! No matter what the world hands you, there are just those moments in your life when you wonder why it is you were mad in the first place.

We look around and see all the people who are struggling, the homeless or someone that has lost their job. They need a little happiness in their lives, a reason to smile, even if it is for just a moment. A handshake or a positive word can go a long way. Even if you just walk up to someone and offer them a encouraging sign, that could move someone and bring a little ray of sunshine where there may have been none. A little happiness goes a long way and you will be refreshed and amazed at how wonderful you will feel.

I try to incorporate a little happiness in every single day, even those days when I am not sure I can muster up any. Whether I give my girls hugs and kisses or tell them a story, making them happy is always my top priority. I also instill that happiness in them, to encourage them to be good to people and help out whenever they can. My oldest daughter always asks me what she can do to help or what will make me happy. I often tell her almost on a daily basis that nothing makes me happier than seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, and just being who she is. To me, that truly is the definition of happiness and all that I will ever need.

Disclosure-I wrote this blog post by participating in the Social Mom's and Hershey's blogging program for a gift card worth $25 and free product. For more on how you can participate, please click HERE.

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