Wordless Wednesday with #Linky: Photo Bloopers

September 20, 2011 By 35 Comments

So remember in my costume review I told you Shane wasn’t a big fan of wearing costumes, so I had trouble getting a photo?

Here’s proof.

Here he is, literally kicking & screaming.

Hubby tried to pick him up & make him “fly” like Buzz but Shane threw himself back on the bed.

This may make me a horrible person but this picture makes me laugh.

Exhausted.

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Now it’s YOUR turn! Link up your wordless/wordful posts below! Do you host a linky every week on your blog? List your blog on my Wordless Wednesday Linky list!



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Recipe: Oatmeal Crusted Chicken Parmesan {Featuring #FirstStreetGrand}

September 20, 2011 By 17 Comments

So a few months ago, I shared the ice cream party that I hosted for some of our playgroup friends featuring some First Street products. {First Street is Smart & Final’s brand- great products at terrific values.} I was blown away by the variety of First Street products available- everything from cookies to sprinkles to chocolate syrup! But recently I learned that there’s even more variety- and not just for ice cream sundaes!

When I was challenged to create a recipe using First Street ingredients in the dry goods category, I knew immediately what I was going to make- but I didn’t know almost every ingredient would be First Street! I went to Smart & Final just looking for their oatmeal & some spaghetti, but came home with a bag full of First Street products! &Even though I spent way less than I would have on the “name brand” products, it didn’t taste like it one bit.

I’m officially obsessed with First Street.

Anyway, I took the oatmeal & spaghetti and made a slightly healthier version of Chicken Parmesan- here’s the recipe!

Oatmeal Crusted Chicken Parmesan

Serves 4

Ingredients: 

  • 1 lb. First Street Spaghetti
  • 1 jar First Street Spaghetti Sauce
  • 2 First Street Eggs
  • 4 First Street Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts {about 1 lb.}
  • A Few Pinches of Grated Parmesan
  • About 2 oz of Shredded Mozzarella
  • 3 packets of First Street Instant Oatmeal {You can use Original flavored or Maple & Brown Sugar- I recommend the latter if you’re making it for kids. I made some of both.}

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • Line a baking sheet with foil
  • Crack two eggs in a shallow bowl & beat just until lightly mixed
  • Pour oatmeal packets into a second shallow bowl
  • Dip chicken breast in the eggs until coated
  • Immediately roll the chicken breast around in the oatmeal until coated
  • Place chicken breast on baking sheet
  • Repeat with 3 other breasts
  • Place in oven for 35 minutes
  • While it’s cooking, make your pasta according to package directions & warm your sauce on the stovetop
  • When the chicken is done, place one breast on each plate of spaghetti & cover with sauce
  • Top with mozzarella & parmesan

This recipe was a total hit with both Hubby & Shane. How do I know? Just look at that face!

&Don’t forget- with all that money you’ll save buying First Street brand products, you can totally spring for a yummy dessert!

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Smart & Final is currently hosting a giveaway- the First Street Grand Event {#FirstStreetGrand}! From September 7th – 20th, Smart & Final is giving away 10 $200 American Express Gift Checks, 10 $100 American Express Gift Checks & 20 First Street bags filled with First Street products and $50 SmartCash cards!

You can check out Smart & Final on Facebook & Twitter - and locate a store near you on their website!

Have you ever tried First Street Products? What are some of your favorites? Let me know in the comments so I can try them next time!


Susie’s Note: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #collectivebias. All experiences are authentic & all opinions are my own.
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Be a Fun Mummy This Halloween with #wishcraft from Chasing Fireflies!

September 18, 2011 By 16 Comments

I love Halloween. I’m not sure if it’s the cooler weather, the promise of Jingle Bells just around the corner, or the candy corn {Okay, it’s totally the candy corn} but Halloween just makes me happy. It may still be six weeks away, but I’ve already been scoping out fun crafts & recipes, and am hoping to get some decorations this weekend! And, Halloween just wouldn’t be Halloween without COSTUMES!

Shane has had some pretty cute costumes before, but this year I wanted to get him something I knew he’d wear for more than just one day. Since he’s completely obsessed with Buzz Lightyear & has taken to jumping off of everything while yelling “To Infinity… and Beyond!” I knew exactly what costume to get him so he could play dress up on October 31st- and beyond!

I ordered Shane a Buzz Lightyear costume from Chasing Fireflies, & didn’t skimp on the extras: we got both the space gloves AND the inflatable jet pack with wings! I waited {im}patiently for the package to arrive & showed Shane the cool packaging with Buzz Lightyear on it. Then I helped him undress & started to put on his costume. Wanna know what he did?

He ran. &Yelled. &Kicked me in the face.

Turns out, Shane has no desire to be Buzz Lightyear. Yet.

He’s a bit afraid of the costume right now, but I’ve talked to some other friends with older kids & they said their kids were the same way at this age. So I’m not giving up hope. Every few days, I’m going to have him put on his costume part way- first just his feet, then more & more as he gets more comfortable with it. &By October 31st, he’ll be ROCKING that space suit!

As far as the costume itself, I have to give it major props. After I managed to wrestle Shane into it, he did everything in his power to get it off. He tugged at the hoodie, the foam chest piece, even the legs. I got nervous when he pulled at the foam, but it held up & has NO show of wear & tear at all. &Even though he threw & stepped on the inflatable jet pack, it hasn’t lost any air. &It’s SO CUTE.


{If you ignore that he’s crying & tugging at his hoodie, he’s actually quite adorable.}

Once Shane has gotten over his fear of his costume, I know he’ll wear it all the time- and since it’s made it without a scratch through this ordeal, I know it’ll last through many, many games of dress up!

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Do you dress up for Halloween? In a recent survey of 1,000 parents, over two-thirds agreed that Halloween is more fun when parents get involved! I think it’s super cute when families pick a theme and all dress up according to it- here are some really cute examples from Chasing Fireflies to get you inspired! {Click to enlarge!}



Chasing Fireflies has a huge selection of costumes for babies, kids, adults and even dogs! With hundreds of costumes to choose from, your options are vast when trying to choose a theme- you could wear matching costumes or just go with a general theme such as sea creatures {mermaid & octopus, anyone?}, animals, or even TV or movie characters!

Need more ideas or just want to share your love of costumes? Join Chasing Fireflies for a Twitter party this Wednesday, September 21st! You can get the full details here but here’s the gist of it:

THE DETAILS:

TOPIC -  Halloween Costume and Party Ideas

TIME - Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 9-10 PM Eastern (8-9 PM Central, 7-8 PM Mountain, 6-7 PM Pacific)

HASHTAG - #wishcraft

CUSTOM TWEETGRID - http://bit.ly/nPw9mv

PANELISTS - @MomSpark, @ChasenFireflies, @MomSparkMedia, @MakobiScribe, @StacieinAtlanta, @TheShoppingMama, @MyFourMonkeys, and @HaleyTweetsToo (make sure to follow everyone before the party!)

PRIZES - Six winners will win Chasing Fireflies Gift Cards, ranging from $50 to $100!

Are you dressing up this year for Halloween? If so, what are you going to be? If not, what about your kid{s}? Let me know in the comments!

Susie’s Note: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

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Saturday Shanefest: 2nd Birthday, Part 2

September 17, 2011 By 7 Comments

So like a year ago, I did a few Saturday Shanefest posts &then I forgot to ever do another one. SO, I am bringing them back right here & now!

What is Saturday Shanefest? It’s a post, on Saturdays, about Shane. Easy enough.

{It’s also a way for me to brag about and/or make fun of my kid on a specified day instead of all.the.time because that gets kind of old, no?}

So on to today’s Shanefest!

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So last week I gave you Part 1 of Shane’s birthday: the food at the birthday party. Now, even though Shane’s birthday was over a month ago, {yeah, I suck that bad.} I want to share some photos from his birthday-week!

On Sunday, we went to a new park that’s part of an upscale outdoor mall- the park there is adorable!


On Monday, since my Aunt was in town but was going to miss his birthday, we decided to treat him to Chuck E Cheese’s- for the first time!

It took a long time to get him to ride anything, &when he did… it didn’t last long.


I have to say, I’d probably have the same reaction if someone put me in a car that drove itself- next to a giant mouse.

Shane took a liking to my Aunt. It probably helped that she got him an awesome present- a Tag Jr. &a Cars book to go with it {which she’s reading him here- he LOVES it.}

Even though he didn’t want to ride anything, or play any games, he is still obsessed with “Mouse” now.

I’ve taken him back once in the month since then, & he still won’t ride anything, but he asks to go there at least every other day.

Tuesday & Wednesday, I had to work, so nothing fun happened.

Thursday, we went to a fun indoor playground! You can see more pics from that day here.

Friday, I had to work again, but Saturday, his actual birthday, he woke up & had cupcakes for breakfast!

&That’s where I leave off, because Part 3 will have photos from his actual birthday- including the party!

What do you do to make your kids’ birthdays special? Do you have any special traditions? Please share them in the comments!
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Sonsi’s Fashion Genius: Truly Genius

September 12, 2011 By 13 Comments

I hate buying clothes. It used to be a favorite pastime, but since I had Shane & my body became all, misshapen, I have issues finding anything that fits right. I used to be able to shop in the juniors section, but now I have to actually shop in the women’s section, and most of the clothes in that section don’t match my casual style. Also? I’m now “plus size”. I could blame my hips or my badunkadunk but let’s be honest here, it’s all chocolate’s fault.

But even knowing my size, I have issues with buying the clothes to match it- I’m “barely” plus size, so if I try to shop in the regular section, they are usually out of my “bigger” size since they only carry a few. &When I try to shop in the “plus” department, they are usually out of my size, because I’m on the “smaller” end of the spectrum & so they hardly stock any of it.

Augh.

So where does that leave me? Well, every store I shop at has signs telling me to go online for additional sizes & colors- but any of you who are plus-size know that shopping online for clothing is equivalent to playing roulette- you’ve got about a 1 in 37 chance of getting something that actually fits you AND doesn’t make you look like a Heffalump.

Luckily, Lane Bryant & sister stores Sonsi, Catherine’s and Fashion Bug understand that and created a new, truly revolutionary tool to help solve the dreaded fit issue when it comes to shopping plus-size fashions online!

Fashion Genius is a new tool to help find the clothing from those four stores that will not only flatter your figure, but will match your style, too. &Best of all is that they don’t need ANY measurements! You answer a few simple questions for each category: tops, bottoms and bras- the questions even have pictures to describe what they’re talking about. &After the tool knows your size, it’ll show you some styles of clothing and ask if you’d ever consider wearing it in order to gauge your style preferences. It got my style profile pretty spot-on:

{click to enlarge}

Once you’ve finished the survey, the tool will show you dozens of items in each category: tops, bottoms, intimates & swim, handbags, shoes & accessories. Some items will have a + on it, which indicates that the tool thinks it will flatter your body type. Some items will have ++ on them, which means that the tool really thinks you’ll love the item, and that it’ll flatter your body. The tool was pretty accurate as far as guessing what I’d love!

When browsing outfits and items, there’s a blank box where you can drag your items over & build an outfit! You can put them all side by side, like I did in the first picture below, or you can put the items where they would really go like I did in the second picture.

If you’re not ready to buy your outfit right now, you can save it for later. But if you ARE ready to buy the outfit, or even just part of it, you can click on “Shop Outfit” to get a list of every item in your outfit and easily add whichever pieces you want to your cart.

This tool truly is genius- and I’m excited to order some of the things in my outfit so I can see how well it judged the fit!

Make sure to check out the Fashion Genius tool- if you do, let me know your thoughts!

Susie’s Note: This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign.

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