Origami Owl Winner!

Congratulations to Maryann Drapkin! You are the winner of the $25 Origami Owl giveaway! I've just sent an email to you with details on claiming your prize. Enjoy!

Step2 Weekend Sales!

I just wanted to share the following sale with you. Today through Monday, April 2 Step2 is having a $4.99 and under shipping sale. All Step2 items ship for $4.99 or less at Step2.com (US shipments only). No promo code needed. Shipping sale price is reflected on the product page.

Also through Monday, the Shady Oasis Sand & Water Play Table is on sale for $54.99 with coupon code S2SH312 at checkout ($15 off the original price).

Now through next Friday, April 6, they are offering a buy more, save more savings event as well. Take $10 off an order of $99 or more with code S2SM1210, $25 off an order of $249 or more with code S2SM1225, or $50 off an order of $499 or more with code S2SM1250. These promo codes expire at 11:59 PM ET on April 6, 2012. Only one code may be used per order. Not valid towards clearance items or combos.

The Muppets DVD

My husband and I have been Muppets fans for a long time! We really wanted to get to the theaters to see the newest Muppet movie but because it was around the holidays, we just never made it. We were eager to get our hands on this DVD the minute it was released!

After a long week, Saturday night we decided we needed some comedy and popped in this movie. I can not remember the last time we laughed so hard! We loved this whole movie! We even stayed up later than usual because we not only had to watch it all the way through (okay parents, admit it--you pause movies and finish them the next night all the time because you're just so exhausted!) but we went on to watch the blooper reel after the movie.  Amy Adams is one of my favorite actresses and she was wonderful in this DVD, as was Jason Segel. The Muppets is a great family movie! I think every family should own this DVD--it's important to laugh every day and this movie will surely help you do just that!

The new Muppets movie is all about Kermit trying to get all the Muppets (who have long ago gone their own ways) back together to save Muppet Studio from an evil man who wants to destroy it so he can drill for oil. It's an adventure full of laughs and guest appearances from starts like Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Rashida Jones, and many more. Will they save the Muppets studio? You'll have to watch it to find out!

The Biggest Muppet Adventure Ever Comes Home!

The Must-Own Movie For The Entire Family Debuts on

Blu-ray ™ Combo Pack, Digital and

On-Demand March 20, 2012

Disney’s "The Muppets" Blu-ray Combo Pack, with its flawless picture and pitch perfect sound, comes with a fantastic slate of bonus content including the laugh out loud "The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think)." The exciting release also includes the hilarious featurette "A Little Screen Test on the Way to the Read Through," which follows Jason Segel, Kermit, The Great Gonzo, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and others as they get ready for the first day of production, and much more fun.

"Blu-ray is a great way to bring the Muppets into your home without having to worry about cleaning up after us," said Kermit the Frog, commenting on the announcement. "And the behind-the-scenes extras are a revealing tell-all look at what it took to bring our movie to the big screen. It’s a must-see for fans of bloopers, flubs and slip-ups – which pretty much describes our act."

3-Disc ‘Wocka-Wocka Value Pack’ (1-Disc Blu-ray + 1-Disc DVD + Digital Copy + Soundtrack Digital Download Card)

Includes:

 The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think) - A laugh out loud look at the actors’ funny gaffs and gags from behind the scenes of making Disney’s "The Muppets."

 Disney Intermission - Groundbreaking Blu-ray feature. Pausing a movie will never be this much fun, as the Muppets take over the screen every time you stop the disc!

 Scratching The Surface: A Hasty Examination of the Making of Disney’s "The Muppets." Hosted by unit production manager monster J.G., the cast and crew take a behind the scenes look at making Muppet and movie history.

 Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song. Rapping his way through the story of his miserable life, Tex tells audiences why he turned out to be such a rotten guy.

 A Little Screen Test on the way to the Read Through. This hilarious footage follows the Muppet gang as they go to their first table reading of the script.

 Eight Deleted Scenes

 Audio Commentary with Jason Segel, James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller

 The Combo Pack also comes with the

popular theatrical spoof trailers

 The Complete Soundtrack

2-Disc Combo Pack (1-Disc Blu-ray + 1 Disc DVD)

Includes:

 The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We think).

 Disney Intermission

 Scratching the Surface: A Hasty Examination of the Making of Disney’s "The Muppets"

 Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song

 A Little Screen Test on the Way to the Read Through

 Deleted Scenes

 Audio commentary with Jason Segel, James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller

 Hidden Easter Eggs

1-Disc DVD + Soundtrack Digital Download Card

Includes:

 The longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think)

 Complete Soundtrack

1-Disc DVD

Includes:

 The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think)

Digital Bonus Exclusive Includes:

 Inside Walter’s Trailer. Take a peek inside Walter’s star trailer as he prepares to play his big role.

Film Synopsis
On vacation in Los Angeles, Walter, the world’s biggest Muppet fan, his brother Gary (Jason Segel) and Gary’s girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), from Smalltown, USA, discover the nefarious plan of oilman Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to raze Muppet Studios and drill for the oil recently discovered beneath the Muppets’ former stomping grounds. To stage a telethon and raise the $10 million needed to save the studio, Walter, Mary and Gary help Kermit reunite the Muppets, who have all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate.

Emmy-nominated team of David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman ("The Fighter," "The Proposal") with a screenplay written by Segel & Nicholas Stoller ("Get Him to the Greek"), who also serve as executive producers along with John G. Scotti and "The Muppet Show" veteran Martin G. Baker. Academy Award®-winner Bret McKenzie, who created, co-wrote, executive-produced and starred in the hit HBO television series "Flight of the Conchords," is the music supervisor as well as the writer/producer of three original songs. Original score is by Christophe Beck, Michael Rooney is the choreographer, Rahel Afiley is the costume designer, and James Thomas is the editor. Steve Saklad is the production designer, and Don Burgess, A.S.C., is the director of photography.

Additional fun-filled features on Disney’s "The Muppets" Blu-ray include a groundbreaking industry first -- ‘Disney Intermission,’ a hilarious all-new feature that allows viewers to press Pause on their remote control and watch as the Muppets take over the screen and entertain until the movie resumes playing. The release also includes "Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song," an extended version of the rollicking rap song by villain Tex Richman (Academy Award® winner Chris Cooper) who provides the hilarious backstory of why he hates the Muppets. The extended version of the song is included on the digital soundtrack and features Disney Music Group Tenor, Nathan Pacheco. Audio commentaries with screenwriter and star Jason Segel, director James Bobin and screenwriter Nicholas Stoller are also included.

With the Muppet’s signature irreverent comedy, songs and dancing, Muppet fans of all ages will cheer as the gang reunites to put on a benefit show to save the crumbling Muppet Studios from being razed by nefarious oil baron Tex Richman. New fans and long-time devotees will find the rainbow connection when they bring Disney’s "The Muppets" into their very own homes.

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review DVD.*

Thirty-One Gifts Winner

The winner of the Thirty-One Gifts Mini Utility Tote is Maureen Armstrong Tenney! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your new tote and get lots of use out of it!! I just sent you an email so you can let me know which fabric you'd like your tote in!

Master Bedroom Needed!

I've mentioned before that we live in a townhouse. That means that space is limited! Our master bedroom is not very big and I'm always trying to find ways to have room for all of our clothes--and everything else that needs to be stored in there.

In preparation for our new baby, we took the twin bed out of our guest room and swapped it with the crib in my daughter's room. Now the guest room will be the new baby's room. Unfortunately, my husband and I were using the dresser, desk and bookshelf that matched the twin bed in OUR bedroom. We've been married for almost 7 years now but STILL haven't bought us a master bedroom set. There have just been other things we needed to spend our extra cash on (when we had it!) so we've made due with what we had.  When we moved everything over to my daughter's room, it left our bedroom pretty empty and also in dire need of more storage space.

We decided that we would use some of our tax refund this year to finally purchase the master bedroom set we need, and I've been looking for weeks now for just the right set.  One of the biggest features I was looking for was a set that would maximize our small space with the most storage possible.  I love this set that I just found at TheRoomPlace.com! This is the TheBedroomPlace.com bedroom set:

Why did I choose it? Well, I love that the bed has built in storage underneath it. That was a huge selling point for me! The nightstand, dresser, and matching chest all have a LOT of drawer space as well. I like the style, it's simple and classic and will fit in nicely with the rest of my decor.

I like how this website shows you EVERYTHING that matches up well, right down to the rug and lamps that they'd recommend with the queen bedding set! I don't consider myself to be an interior design expert by any means, and this makes my job much easier!

Not only does TheRoomPlace.com have bedroom furniture, you can also shop there for dining rooms, living rooms, children's rooms, mattresses, and lots more! I found the website really easy to navigate. Oh, and they also even have a clearance and sale section! I love that of course! If you're in the market for some new furniture,  I'd definitely recommend that you check them out!

*I received a small monetary amount for this post, however all opinions are my own.*

My Baby's 2nd Birthday!

I can't believe it, my baby turned 2 years old early, early this morning! It is amazing how time flies by! We were in the car yesterday and this song came on the radio. Grab some tissues if you have your own little girl and are going to watch this--don't say I didn't warn you!


I'm almost 34 weeks pregnant with our second child right now, and looking down at my big "ball" as she told me yesterday, it truly feels like just yesterday I was carrying her around and loving her sweet baby kicks.

I don't expect to be blogging, Facebooking, or emailing until late tonight. Today, I'm going to dance with my Cinderella!!

All About Grandmas Picture Book Winners

There were 2 winners for this book giveaway! They are:

• Brooke Thomas
• Devon Franco

Congratulations!! You supplied your shipping info when you entered the contest, so I've already forwarded it on to get the book shipped for you. You should receive a copy of this great little book soon! Enjoy!!

We Bought a Zoo DVD Prize Pack!

FROM DIRECTOR CAMERON CROWE COMES THE UPLIFTING

 TALE BASED ON A TRUE STORY

Featuring Family Friendly Audio Track The Whole Family Will Go Wild for this Heartwarming Adventure Starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson On Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download April 3

This Easter, be unpredictable, do something crazy and embrace your wild side! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents an inspiring adventure based on a true story of one man who brought a zoo back to life and family back together in WE BOUGHT A ZOO, arriving on Blu-ray, DVD and digital download April 3. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) and starring Matt Damon (Contagion, True Grit), Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) and Thomas Haden Church (Easy A, Sideways), WE BOUGHT A ZOO is “a sweet-natured tale…that you’ll want to see with your kids” (Liz Braun, Jam! Movies).

Benjamin Mee (Damon) is a Los Angeles newspaper columnist and adventure writer who, as a single father, faces the challenges of raising his two young children. Hoping that a fresh start and a new life will restore their family spirit, Mee quits his job and buys an old rural house outside the city with a unique bonus feature: a zoo named the Rosemoor Animal Park, where dozens of animals reside under the care of head zookeeper Kelly Foster (Johansson) and her dedicated team. With no experience, limited time and a shoestring budget, Mee sets out with the support of his family and the local community to reopen the zoo. Now, Benjamin is no longer reporting an adventure story; he’s living it in his own backyard.

TOP FILMS TO WATCH THIS EASTER

This year, Easter Sunday falls on April 8th, the week of the DVD & Blu-ray release for We Bought a Zoo, a film centered around a widowed father who moves his family to a struggling zoo and takes on the challenge of renovating it, instilling in his children life’s most important lessons in the process. In this feature, we will highlight films that contain the theme of Easter or are family-friendly, to watch on this holiday and/or include in Easter baskets, in addition to We Bought a Zoo.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

Author C.S. Lewis brings about many religious overtones in his work – including in his famous Chronicles of Narnia. The first published book of the series – “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tells the story of four siblings who enter the magical land of Narnia through a portal in their wardrobe. With the help of an-all knowing lion, Aslan, the siblings learn of their destiny to help save Narnia. Though the literary works and film adaptations are generally regarded as fantasy, there are many parallels to the Christian ideology, such as Aslan’s representation of Jesus Christ. Aslan sacrifices his life to save one of the siblings but is then resurrected from the dead. 

LITTLE ANGELS

Best known for her role as angel “Monica,” in CBS’ “Touched by an Angel,” Roma Downey executive produces the animated DVD series, Little Angels. Created for pre-schoolers, Little Angels teaches educational skills such as ABCs and 123s. The series follow twins Alex and Zoe who are guided by eight little angels that watch over them, helping guide them through the many challenges they face in their young lives. 

IT’S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN

Debuting on CBS network in 1974, It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, tells the story of the Peanuts Gang as they get ready for Easter through their own quirky and messy ways, even though Linus tries to convince everyone that the Easter Beagle will take care of everything. The network has continually air the film every year since it’s original airing. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

In the 1956 epic film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, The Ten Commandments depicts the biblical story of the Exodus, in which Moses, as portrayed by Charleton Heston leads the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea and onto the based of Mount Sinai, where Moses receives the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments, which is narrated by DeMille, was the last film he ever directed. 

I'm pleased to be able to offer one of you the chance to win the brand new We Bought a Zoo DVD plus the original novel this movie is based off of!

If you'd like a chance to win, just fill out the easy Rafflecopter entry form below. Don't see it? Click "read more" to bring it up! Good luck!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

Chick-fil-A Kids Meal Giveaway

Lace up your sneakers because the new Nutritious Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals are going to help fuel active family fun! Spring is here and what better way to promote an active lifestyle, and enjoy the great outdoors than with some old school games for your family to enjoy. The Old School Fun blog app is now available with classic old school games for the family and a fun throwback quiz!

WHY will you love the Old School Fun Blog App??

• Free Chick-fil-A Kids Meals! I'm hosting  a GIVEAWAY to celebrate! I get to offer one lucky reader 3 Free Chick-fil-A Kids Meals!
• Fun Activities! Spin the wheel to get an endless amount of Old School Fun and games for the entire family!  You’re just a spin away from creating awesome family memories!

• The Old School Fun Quiz! Are you a disco-dynamo or the bomb dot com? Take the throwback quiz to reminisce about the pop culture icons of your era!
• Get Social! Tweet @chickfila with the #OldSchoolFun hashtag!
  

If you'd like a chance to win, just fill out the easy Rafflecopter entry form below. Don't see it? Click "read more" to bring it up! Good luck!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

Fly Belly Maternity Shirt Review and Giveaway

I'm 33 weeks, plus a few days. 33 weeks!! I can't believe I have come so far in my pregnancy already. In so many ways it feels like it is dragging along, but in many ways it is flying by! I've finally reached one of the really exciting parts of pregnancy (at least for me) when I've got a big belly and a baby shower to attend! I go to a great local mom's group and they are throwing a shower for me. Of course, like any mom, I'm excited!

I wanted a pretty new top to wear to the shower and I found just the one at Flybelly.com. What or Who is Fly Belly?  Well, I'm glad you asked! Let me let Liz, the owner of Fly Belly tell you:

Fly Belly is a one woman show! I shop for the trendiest, most affordable items, take all the pictures myself and list each item one by one. After you purchase, I am the one who packages your purchase and ships it. By the way...it's also me that answers all your questions! That's right, you get a REAL person who honestly cares about your shopping experience. Stores that have great customer service keep me coming back for more, so I, in turn, want to provide great customer service to YOU in the hopes that you will refer me to friends and come back for more!

My name is Liz. I am a stay at home mom of 5 little ones. About 5 years ago, I was looking for a way to make a little 'me' money and decided to start selling things on ebay. Soon, I discovered a PASSION for maternity clothes. I remember back in 2003 being pregnant with my first daughter and wearing fluorescent baggy t-shirts and huge over the belly paneled capris. It was a little disheartening to be 21 and frumpy! Finding cute, affordable maternity clothes was HARD to do!

After I discovered the high demand for cute, affordable maternity clothes, I began selling exclusively maternity clothes on ebay under the user name mostly-maternity. For the past year or so, I have kicked around the idea of opening up my own store online, and I finally decided to just JUMP IN and do it! I hope you enjoy shopping and hope you will refer your friends and check back often for new inventory, because believe me, I LOVE to shop and share amazing clothes with you!
A few personal details to help you get to know me better...I LOVE what I do...being a mom, that is. It is definitely the most challenging thing that I have EVER done, but also the most rewarding. I love music-I play the flute, piano and most recently, the organ for my church. I've been married to my amazingly supportive husband Adam since 2002 and I am grateful for the amazing journey that I am on and for all the twists and turns life throws at us!

 So, why do I love Fly Belly? Fly Belly not only has amazing prices, she also has amazing taste in clothing! I LOVE all of the stuff she's chosen to sell in her shop. I was able to choose one item to review and honestly it was hard work picking one! I really want to go back and buy SO much more! I finally decided on this pink top. All of the cute clothes she sells almost makes me want to be pregnant all the time--almost. :)

The shirt arrived and it is just like I'd hoped it would be. Not too casual, not too dressy. Just what I was looking for! It is SO soft and comfortable and plenty long! When I'm not pregnant, I wear size small clothes. Well, lately I've come to realize that many of my size small maternity tops just aren't fitting right anymore. That's not the case with this shirt. It fits SO well and I know will keep fitting me through the end of my pregnancy.

Here is me wearing my new (favorite!) shirt. If I look tired, it's because we had just gotten home from an all-day trip to the Baltimore Aquarium (for my daughter's birthday!). I can't wait to wear this top out again and again!

I am so happy with my Fly Belly experience, and really think you will be too! Make sure you check out her Ebay store for great deals, and also her Facebook page!  Liz has generously offered to give one of my readers a $25 credit to her store!!

If you'd like a chance to win, just fill out the easy Rafflecopter entry form below. Don't see it? Click "read more" to bring it up! Good luck!

~Like this review and giveaway? Please click the Top Mommy Blogs banner below. This casts a vote for my blog today and helps me continue to get great products to share with you!

We Bought a Zoo Family Study Guide

Did you read the review I just published for the new DVD We Bought a Zoo? Click here to read it now! I'm pleased to be able to also share with you the official We Bought a Zoo faith study guide, printable for families and those looking for a little inspiration!

*Click on each picture to bring up a larger, readable image OR if you'd like to print each page, right click the picture, click "open link in new window" then print!*

Don't forget, We Bought a Zoo hits stores on April 3rd! AND, watch for a giveaway of this DVD right here, coming soon!

Wizards 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray + Book

DELVE INTO RALPH BAKSHI’S CULT CLASSIC

LIKE NEVER BEFORE

The Fantastical Allegory Comes to Life for the First Time

On Blu-ray March 13

Twentieth Century Fox’s first-ever animated film, created by renowned director Ralph Bakshi, WIZARDS appeared in a 35^th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + Book release on March 13 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Celebrating its 35^th anniversary, the “epic fantasy of peace and magic” stars the voice talent of Mark Hamill (Star Wars Saga). The special edition Blu-ray + Book release is a must-have for fans and collectors, featuring 24-pages of amazing artwork from the film, some of the artwork never-before-seen, and a special message from Bakshi!

Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, this fantasy adventure follows the story of Avatar, the kindly, eccentric sorcerer-ruler of Montagar, a rainbow paradise inhabited by elves and fairies. Avatar's evil brother, Blackwolf, dominates Scortch, a bleak land of goblins and wraiths. When the power-hungry Blackwolf attacks Montagar, Avatar, accompanied only by a spirited young woman and a courageous elf, must enter the darkness of Scortch to save his world.

What I Thought:

I honestly had never heard of this movie before receiving it for review. I love movies though and am always looking for something new to try, so I thought--why not?!  It's your classic story of good versus evil with a sci-fi, fantasy mix to it. The animation in this movie is simple, yet unique, although I wasn't impressed with the scantily clad cartoon lady who plays the main character (see parents guide). I would have given this movie a PG-13 rating just due to that. It wasn't my favorite movie, but I can honestly can see why this movie is considered a cult-classic. I'd consider this a guy-movie for sure! If you are a fan of Ralph Bakshi or the cartoon movies of the 70's like Fritz the Cat, Lord of the Rings, and/or Fire and Ice then I'd recommend this movie for you!

Have you seen this movie? I'd love to know your thoughts on it!

Parents Guide:

This movie is rated PG

Sex & Nudity

• No sex or nudity but the main female character is dressed in a revealing outfit that barely covers her body and always shows her nipples poking through it.
• A very brief moment where a woman starts taking off her clothes under threat.
• In the background, 3 prostitutes try to attract a man from across the street. It is in the background and isnt the main focus of the scene.

Violence & Gore

• Several scenes show lenghty archive WW2 footage of battles (mainly explosions and soldiers/tanks shooting).
• Several scenes of characters shot or stabbed with blood visible.
• A horse like creature is shot directly in the head with an arrow. We see blood fly out.

Profanity

• 11 uses of "damn", including one use of "Goddamn!". One use of shit, around three uses of hell (not including uses of the location, ex. "Demons arose from Hell!", one use of "son of a bitch", and one use of both whore and slut.

Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking

• Some casual drinking and cigar smoking.

*This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review DVD.*

Maximize Space With Contemporary Furniture from Nurseryworks

We live in a 3 bedroom townhouse, so maximizing the space in our kids bedrooms is very important to us! Here is a guest post from My Urban Child about maximizing the space in your children's bedrooms!

Planning a room for our children is exciting, but at the same time we encounter challenges. Most of the time, we don’t have enough space and there is no other option but to let our children share rooms.  However, we know that even young kids want to have privacy. It may be difficult to give them what they want when they are sharing with a sibling, but it can be done. Just put a little bit of planning, especially with the furniture, and you can maximize space and give your children the privacy that they need.

Beds are the most important purchase that you will make in furnishing your children’s bedroom. Keeping in mind that you have a small space to work with, a four-poster or a sleigh bed would be out of the question. Try to look for beds that have multiple functions. Some modern beds have built-in storage in the form of cabinets or drawers. There are also loft beds that have study space underneath.  The study space would usually have a desk and storage units.

Bunk beds are also big on space-saving.  The contemporary ones even have storage space in addition to the beds. One smartly designed bed from Nurseryworks is their Duet Modern Custom Children’s Bunk Beds. This bed gives many options for use. They can be stacked or unstacked, the underbed drawers can also be used as a trundle bed with the addition of a mattress, and the cubbies can be a separate shelving unit when the bed is unstacked. The upper cabinets can be accessed from the top bunk so that whoever uses the top bunk has a convenient access to his books or extra blankets. And when the beds are stacked, children can have privacy even if they are sharing the same room.

If your children prefer twin beds rather than bunk beds, you can still maximize floor space by getting a twin bed with storage. The Nurseryworks Duet Modern Custom Bedwith Contemporary Storage is a good example of a bed with space for storage or an extra bed. You can choose to have the bed with three underbed drawers or a trundle bed with mattress system.

We might not always have the space in our homes, but with a little bit of planning and careful choice of furniture, we can still give our children a bedroom that is convenient and private, not to mention trendy!

*This post brought to you by My Urban Child.*

Weeknights with Giada Cookbook

Giada De Laurentiis is one of America’s most-loved culinary stars, adored for her Food Network hit shows and her New York Times bestselling cookbooks alike, both of which feature her fresh, flavorful Italian recipes. For the first time, Giada tackles weeknight cooking, sharing her favorite tips and go-to dishes—all in her vibrant signature style—to get a delicious meal on the table in a flash.

After a full day, Giada, like most parents, wants nothing more than to sit down for a home-cooked dinner with her husband, Todd, and their daughter, Jade. Weeknights with Giada rises to the challenge, delivering soups, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, and meat and fish dishes that come together quickly as stand-alone main courses—most in half an hour or less: Rustic Vegetable and Polenta Soup, a hearty soul-warming one-pot dish, cooks in under twenty minutes; Lemony White Bean, Tuna, and Arugula Salad is a great meal that’s quickly assembled from pantry and fridge essentials; Spicy Linguini with Clams and Mussels is a fifteen-minute-or-less spectacular pasta; and you can’t beat Grilled Sirloin Steaks with Pepper and Caper Salsa, which are also ready in just fifteen minutes. From inventive breakfast-for-dinner dishes and meatless Monday vegetarian recipes—both weekly traditions in Giada’s house—to picnic sandwiches and hearty salad recipes for reinventing leftovers, Weeknights with Giada reveals every secret in her repertoire. Even the desserts are quick to mix and bake, should a craving—or a last-minute school bake sale—strike.

Here is Giada at her most inventive—and at her most laid-back. Flavor, freshness, and fun take center stage while cooking times, pots dirtied, and stress are kept to a minimum. With gorgeous color photographs and intimate home snapshots of Giada and her family, Weeknights with Giada is a welcome handbook of fantastic recipes and surefire Monday-to-Friday strategies for every home cook.

What I Thought:

I love to watch Giada on Food Network so I was excited about having the chance to review her new cookbook! I LOVE finding new recipes for my family to enjoy. It feels sometimes like we eat the same things over and over again!

This cookbook is full quick and simple dinner recipes--just what I need! We are a pasta-loving family, so I especially enjoyed her pasta and grains chapter. We've tried the pastina with peas and carrots recipe and the whole family enjoyed it. Spicy linguine with clams and mussels was also a hit at our house, and the pasta alla formiana was divine! You'll also find great sandwiches, meat, poultry, fish, and even breakfast for dinner recipes. I can't wait to go through this whole cookbook and make every dish!

This cookbook will be available for sale beginning on 3/27 and has a suggested retail price of $35! Look for it at Amazon.com or your other favorite bookstores!

 *This is not a paid posting. Thanks to the company for the complimentary review book.*

Annmarie All-Natural Skincare Winner

The winner of this giveaway is Ed/Sarah Shult, congratulations! You already supplied your shipping info, so I've forwarded it on and you should have your prize soon. Enjoy!

Pacific Cookie Company Review and Giveaway

I've heard it said that when you're pregnant with a little girl, you crave more sweets. Well, the opposite seems to be true for me. I didn't want a lot of sweets when I was pregnant with Maggie, but being pregnant with a boy this time around, I can't seem to get enough of them!

So, of course, when I was contacted by Pacific Cookie Company about reviewing some fresh-baked cookies, you know I just had to say "yes!"

Pacific Cookie Company– an award winning and family owned cookie company from San Francisco - has been in business for over 30 years! They make their cookies with all natural ingredients! They have 14 different gourmet cookie varieties. These cookies contain only the finest ingredients with no preservatives and no artificial flavorings. They use sweet butter, fresh whole eggs, pure vanilla extract, unbleached flour and Guittard chocolates. YUM!!

I remember that right after giving birth to Maggie, I was sent a lot of flowers and balloons. Well, those are all nice items to receive, but Pacific Cookie Company has an even better idea--send that new mom some delicious cookies! They have a gift basket you can send to celebrate the arrival (or upcoming arrival!) of a new little blessing. They call it their "Cow 'Bout that Baby Cookie Gift Basket." Because they know I'm about to have a little boy, they sent me one of these yummy gift baskets!

Is there a new Moov’er and Shaker in your life?

Send momma and baby a very special cookie delivery, an adorable new baby gift basket filled with fresh baked cookies as a welcome to the world, and give your little milker a taste of something sweet......
This darling striped gourmet cookie gift basket comes with 18-2oz delicious cookies and a Mary Meyer plush cow perfect for a sweet little baby girl or bouncing baby boy. Your choice in Pastel Pink or Baby Blue.

The baby will love to play with this cuddly soft cow that is sized perfectly for little hands and Momma will be very happy with the fresh baked cookies she didn’t have time to bake for all of the company stopping by to see the new baby. When she wakes up in the middle of the night, to refill, she can nosh on our cookies for a well deserved sugar rush.

After the cookies are gone, this reusable cookie gift basket is perfect as a nursery caddy.

Here's what mine looked like:

I was able to choose my 3 favorite cookies. It was a VERY hard choice, but after much thought I chose:

• Chocolate Chip
• Mint Condition
• Cahootz

All three varieties were SO good! I am a mint lover, so I have to say that Mint Condition was my favorite, but I've gobbled up all of these cookies! The arrived fresh, chewy, and just absolutely delicious!

I think that this is a great idea to send to new mothers! Not only will they love it, but if they have other children already, they will appreciate it as well! In fact, Maggie just loved the little cow that came with the basket (and yes, of course the cookies too!). It made me think, if you do have older children, this would be a great "from the baby" present to send to an older sibling. Had this basket been sent to us after our baby had arrived, I think I would have told Maggie it was a present from her baby brother.

Pacific Cookie Company has a variety of gift baskets, gift boxes, cookie jars, and tins! Whatever occasion you are celebrating, I'm certain you can find a great gift through them!

One of my lucky fans will receive a gift basket just like the one I was sent (you can choose between the pink or blue basket).  Send it to yourself or send it to someone you know to brighten their day!

If you'd like a chance to win, just fill out the easy Rafflecopter entry form below. Don't see it? Click "read more" to bring it up! Good luck!

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