Busy Mom Reviews

Pork Be Inspired: Game Day Pork and Chile Wraps

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:38:20 -0600

This is the second week of the "Pork: Be Inspired" project from Publix and the National Pork Board. For the next few weeks, Publix is featuring a different cut of pork on sale in their stores, and part of this project is to make a healthy meal from the featured cut. . Last week, I made Sauteed Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Lemon-Garlic Sauce. This week's challenge was to make something for game day with boneless pork loin chops, so I chose Game Day Pork and Chile Wraps: Ingredients: • 12 ounces boneless center cut pork loin chops, 3/4-inch thick, lean • 1 tablespoon olive oil • Salt and black pepper • 4 8-inch Tortillas • 1/4 avocado, pitted, peeled, thinly sliced • 1/3 cup red onion, thinly sliced • 1 4-oz can diced green chiles • 4 cups mixed salad greens, (about 2 oz) Directions: • In medium skillet over medium-high heat, warm oil. • Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. • Cook about 3-4 minutes per side until browned and internal temperature reaches 145 deg F. • Place chops on a plate and let rest 5 minutes • Cut chops into 1/4-in. slices. • Microwave tortillas on high until slightly warm and softened, Place tortillas on workspace and top with pork, avocado, onion, chiles and salad greens stopping 2 inches short of one edge. • Working one tortilla at a time, fold one side of tortilla up and over fillings. • Tuck fillings in tightly, then fold in the 2-in. edge. • Continue rolling tortilla toward the other side, securing with toothpick if necessary. • Repeat with remaining tortillas and serve Nutrition: Calories 290, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Sodium 310 mg, Carbohydrate 26 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 23 g I made them tonight, and they turned out great (even if I did eat the leftover avocado). They were really easy to make, and it's something a little different you can feed the crowd: For information and other great recipe ideas, be sure to check out Pork Be Inspired and the Pork Be Inspired Facebook page. Also, don't forget to follow @AllAboutPork on Twitter and the hashtag, #Publix4Pork. Check out the sales on pork at a Publix near you, and see what kind of healthy meal you can create! Disclosure: This campaign is in conjunction with The Motherhood and Publix, I received gift cards to purchase my recipe ingredients and am being compensated for my time. All opinions are 100% mine. We like pork, and I thought you might, too.

Fair and Square Pricing: jcpenney introduces a new way to shop

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:36:50 -0600

Are you tired of going to the store and wondering if you got the best deal? On Februrary 1, 2012, jcpenney introduced a completely new pricing structure that will do away with coupons completely, sales, and create a fair and square pricing structure so you know that no matter what day you are shopping at jcpenney you are getting a fair price. Imagine it. You don't have to wait for sales, scan websites, cut coupons or make a special trip to get a great deal. Here's how it works: There are 3 Fair and Square prices: -Everyday, regular prices: which are always great; -Month-Long Values: even better prices on the things you need now; and -Best Prices: jcpenney's lowest prices, which always happen on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month. Additionally, jcpenney unveiled a new logo and their stores will be updated, and reorganized featuring lots of brands you love. Disclosure: jcpenney will be providing me with a gift card for me to check out the new way to shop in person.

Invisalign Teen Update

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:30:42 -0600

I haven't checked in in a while regarding Busy Boy's Invisalign Teen treatment. He's nearing the end of treatment, I think there's only a few more aligners to go! He's done such a great job with it because it does take some dedication to wear them. I sometimes forget he has them and then I panic until I find out he can take care of them just fine without me. Actually, he can take care of quite a few things without me, now that I read that, I think it's my own issues at play here. Kidding. Mostly. At any rate, he's been at this for just over a year, and I really didn't realize how far he'd come until the orthodontist showed us an animation depicting how his teeth had moved since the beginning of treatment. There's a big difference, and I was just noticing tonight how good his teeth look. Here's a video we made (my hair is a disaster, be warned) from a while back with a little of his perspective about wearing Invisalign Teen: Disclosure: I am a member of the Invisalign Teen Mom Advisory Board. My son has received complimentary treatment from Invisalign, but all opinions expressed are my own.

Self-storage needs

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:14:04 -0600

As many of you know, I'm getting ready to send my first kid to college in the fall. She's looking at several different places, some that are several hours from home. Actually, in the next few years, I'll have 2 kids living away from home, possibly in apartments. Because I'm me, I'm already worried about the logistics of then living away from home. College students move frequently, and come home for extended periods of time, so you have to balance whether or not you need to rent a truck or see a storage company to have a place for their stuff between moves. If you do decide you need a storage facility, it's nice to know that companies like Uncle Bob's have lots of different locations near lots of schools (since we still don't know what school she'll choose). I have no idea the adventures in moving that await me, do I?

Ashley Sleep - “Seize YOUR Day”

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:44:35 -0600

If you've read Busy Mom Blog for any length of time, you know we're in serious need of a new mattress. It's gotten hard to sleep, and I've had mornings I could barely move, so it's time. In the morning, I'm headed to Las Vegas to the Ashley Furniture Showroom at the World Furniture Market, to learn about Ashley Sleep mattresses and their “Seize YOUR Day” Campaign: Ashley Sleep believes you should always be getting a great night’s sleep and that a great mattress can help you do that. They believe great nights can lead to amazing days and that you should always be getting a great night’s sleep and that a great mattress can help you do that. They believe in the power of making life’s ordinary moments extraordinary and in the power of making life’s ordinary moments extraordinary when you have a great night’s sleep. If you are getting a proper night’s sleep, who knows what you will be able to accomplish the next day? Ashley Sleep was introduced in 2008, and is manufactured by Ashley Furniture Industries, the largest furniture manufacturer and #1 retail furniture brand in the world. All of their mattresses are built with comfort technologies normally included in mattresses sold at much higher prices, and each mattress passes over 200 quality control tests before leaving the manufacturing facilities. So what does it mean for me? I'm getting ready to find out when I go to LasVegas and choose a mattress that's right for me. Stay tuned! Be sure to follow Ashley Sleep on Facebook for stories and tips on making the most of your day! Disclosure: I will receive the trip and a product sample from Ashley Sleep as described above. I am free to (and, I will!) write about my experiences as I wish.

The Pork Be Inspired “Good and Good for You Challenge”

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:01:22 -0600

One of my plans for the new year (notice I didn't say "resolution") was to try to find some different things to make for dinner as we seems to have gotten in a pasta with different color sauce rut. Not only would it help with variety, I figured if I tried a little harder, we could eat healthier, too. One thing we love, and I somehow end up "forgetting about" is pork. So, when good folks at The Motherhood asked me if I wanted to be a part of the “Good and Good for You Challenge” from Publix and the National Pork Board, I thought it was great timing! In order to inspire healthy diets in 2012, the National Pork Board is hosting a “Good and Good for You Challenge” from January 26-February 22nd, 2012 and they are asking people to pledge to eat healthy throughout the year. For each of the four weeks of the challenge, Publix will be offering a sale on a select cut of pork. This week, pork tenderloin is on sale. I made Sauteed Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Lemon-Garlic Sauce: Times Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Ingredients 1 pork tenderloin, (1 pound), trimmed 1/4 teaspoon salt , divided 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, divided 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided 2 cloves garlic , minced 1/2 cup dry white wine, (for non-alcoholic, substitute low-sodium chicken broth) 1/2 cup chicken broth, low-sodium Grated zest and 1 tablespoon lemon juice , from 1 lemon 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, OR or 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage or rosemary* Cooking Directions Cut pork into 12 slices, about 1-inch thick. Sprinkle pork on all sides with 1/8 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook, turning once, until the pork is well browned and internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F, about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Transfer pork to serving platter and cover to keep warm. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to skillet. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the wine and broth. Increase heat to high and cook, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet, until the liquid is reduced by two thirds, about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper, the lemon zest and juice, and the parsley. Serve the pork medallions drizzled with the sauce (makes a generous 1/3 cup; about 1 1/2 tablespoons per serving). *To substitute fresh herbs with dried herbs, use 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley or 3/4 teaspoon dried sage, or 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary Makes 4 servings For information and other great recipe ideas, be sure to check out Pork Be Inspired and the Pork Be Inspired Facebook page. Also, don't forget to follow @AllAboutPork on Twitter and the hashtag, #Publix4Pork. Check out the sales on pork at a Publix near you, and see what kind of healthy meal you can create! Disclosure: This campaign is in conjunction with The Motherhood and Publix, I received gift cards to purchase my recipe ingredients and am being compensated for my time. All opinions are 100% mine. We like pork, and I thought you might, too.

Updating the bathroom

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:24:32 -0600

We've been in our house for 20 years this year, that's hard to believe! We have an old house, and we worked hard to fix it up way back in 1992. As much as we love it, it's starting to look a little dated. At the time, the house had only 1 bathroom, and we had to completely start over on it. We eventually added 2 other baths upstairs a couple of year later, though. Our house has a lot of character, and at the time we were re-doing the bathroom, the contractor kept wanting to put in antique-looking fixtures. Those types of things were so NOT our taste, but we did agree on a pedestal sink downstairs. The upstairs bathrooms don't really have anything as interesting, they're more utilitarian, I suppose. Forward this many years later, even though it feels like it was just yesterday when we did all that work, it's been a while. We've recently discussed the need to go one room at a time and update and detail them, lest we become the people with the musty, dated house. The bathroom is actually going to be first, and we'll probably start by looking at 2012 bath vanities and removing the wallpaper. Places like Modern Bathroom are good for that type of inspiration. It's sort of an oddly-shaped room (old house fun!), so that makes it a challenge, but we're up for it. I don't know exactly what we'll end up doing, or when we'll get started, but I'm looking forward to freshening things up and getting rid of clutter. However, we have kids, so I'm not sure the "clutter" part will ever be resolved, but we can try!

Trop50 True Resolutions

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:15:52 -0600

Did you know Tropicana has a line of juice beverages with 50% less calories and sugar and no artificial flavors? If one of your New Year's resolutions is to cut down on sugar and calories (I know mine is!), Trop50 might be able to help. One of my favorite flavors is the Trop50 Raspberry Lemonade, you should check it out! Trop50 also comes in a variety of other flavors including Farmstand Apple, Pineapple Mango and Pomegranate Blueberry. Trop50 even gives you a chance to win a $1000 gift card. Trop50 True Resolutions celebrates the real reasons behind New Year’s resolutions. Share your secret motivation and you’ll earn a coupon for $1 off Trop50 for yourself and 50¢ off coupons for up to 50 of your friends. You can even submit incognito with a fierce disguise. Bonus: Whether you submit a resolution or not, you can also enter a sweepstakes to win a $1000 gift card. So, what are you waiting for? Go on over and enter Trop50 True Resolutions and try Tropicana Trop50! Disclosure: I am a Tropicana TropiMomma.

Learning to do makeup with brushes

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:26:58 -0600

A couple of years ago, I suddenly developed a problem with my eye make-up ending up under my eyes, giving me dark circles. I hadn't really done anything different with my make-up routine, so the issue was baffling. I've always enjoyed watching make-up tutorials to try to pick up new ideas and learn some stuff, so I looked for an answer there, but didn't really find anything. One thing I did notice, however was that the people who were really good at eye make-up used brushes. I'd always wanted to try them, but wasn't really ready to make a commitment to them since make-up brushes can be a little spendy. But, I noticed that e.l.f. makes several affordable makeup brush sets, and since I thought my eyeliner might be the culprit, I tried to figure out how to do it with a make-up brush. After a little trial and error, I figured out how to do liner using a brush and my regular dark eyeshadow, and the problem went away! I had thought that brushes were for people really skilled at doing makeup, but I learned that I probably should have been using them all along! My next project is to learn to do foundation, and check into the mineral makeup that's so popular (hey, I didn't say my skills were cutting edge) and try using mineral makeup brushes. So, back to the e.l.f. section at the store I'll go. So, eventually I'll figure out what "all those makeup brushes" actually do, and I'll be a professional in no time!

Lego Games Giveaway: Family Game Time

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:37:35 -0600

As an only child, I spent a lot of time with my parents, and games were many of the fun things we did together.

Trouble was one of my favorite games, and I liked Don't Spill the Beans. I always wanted Operation, but somehow I never ended up with it. Perhaps it was the 5,672 little pieces that my mother didn't want to deal with? Who knows?

Anyway, I've enjoyed playing Trouble with my own kids, and Hungry, Hungry Hippos and Puppy Racers are big around here, even as my kids have gotten older.

I have 3 kids of different ages and personalities, and while it doesn't always end well when they play games together, I've always tried to make sure they get time with us to play their favorite games just like my parents did for me.

How are board games a bonding experience for your family? Reply below for a chance to win one of five ultimate LEGO® Games prize packs!!

LEGO® Games are the world’s first collection of board games that can be built, played and changed, that delivers a whole new way for families to have fun together the LEGO way. Whether challenging friends or family to a LEGO Game in a variety of themes and types – guessing, strategy, memory, logic and chance – no two LEGO Games experiences are ever the same!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LEGO Systems. The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the LEGO Brand. Official Contest Rules

Holiday Comforts from Tempur-Pedic

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:13:04 -0600

This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love. The weather's getting colder, and the holidays are coming up, so it's the perfect time to slow down a little (after shopping, that is!) and relax a bit with family and friends. Holiday comforts can mean a lot of things: a comfy couch, good music, warm drinks and a fire in the fireplace. But, comfort isn't only physical. There's a certain psychological comfort in family holiday traditions, as well. When I was growing up, my grandparents always came to visit at Christmas, and I couldn't wait because I always helped my grandmother make the dressing for the Turkey. We'd always listen to certain holiday music and we opened the wrapped gifts on Christmas Eve while Santa brought his gifts on Christmas morning. Dessert was always vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce because that was my grandfather's favorite. Now that I have my own family, we've made traditions as well. But, as we all know, the life of a grown-up during the holidays is different than when we were kids. There's a few more things to do besides open gifts. Holidays can be hectic and exhausting, and it's important to remember to take the time rest and relax and enjoy the fruits of your holiday labor. One of my favorite holiday comforts to help me remember to relax is my winter penguin pajama pants. They are comfortable and festive, and great for just hanging out (no, I'm not the person who wears them to the grocery store, don't worry). It used to be that when I got them out to wear, the holidays had officially begin for me. But, now I don't actually put them away because I like them and they make me happy. They're a little way to extend the comforts of the holiday season year-round. I bought them several years ago on my annual girls trip to the beach, so they remind me of being with friends, too. They are unfortunately starting to show their age, but they still go everywhere with me, bring holiday comfort to even the unexpected locations: Comfort is the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday gift list, so be sure to take advantage of Tempur-Pedic's Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective

RSV and Preemie Awareness

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:59:52 -0600

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that leads to mild cold symptoms for most people, but for some people, especially premature infants, it can be much more serious. RSV Facts: - RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization, responsible for more than 125,000 hospitalizations and up to 500 infant deaths each year - RSV occurs in epidemics each fall though spring. The CDC has defined "RSV season" as beginning in November and lasting through March for most parts of North America. - Despite its prevalence, one-third of mothers have never heard of RSV Busy Girl had RSV when she was a baby, and though she wasn't premature, it was very scary. The symptoms are similar to a common cold, but they can worsen rapidly, especially with premature babies. RSV Symptoms Please be aware of the symptoms, and seek assistance from your healthcare provider immediately if your baby has any of the following or if you have any questions: - Persistent coughing or wheezing - Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths - Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails - High fever - Extreme fatigue - Difficulty feeding RSV Prevention There is no treatment for RSV, so prevention is key: • Wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently • Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer • Avoid large crowds and people who may be sick • Never let anyone smoke near your baby • Speak with your child’s doctor if you believe he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available November 17th is World Prematurity Day, although the entire month is dedicated to raising awareness. Despite the fact that we are considered one of the most advanced countries in the world, a whopping 1 in 8 babies is still born prematurely in the United States. Visit RSV Protection for more information. I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

JCPenney and Angel Giving Tree Online Twitter party

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 22:31:42 -0600

The holidays are right around the corner, and there are many people who don't have basic necessities right here in our own neighborhoods. For many years, we've participated in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program through church with our kids as we've chosen the name of someone who could use a little hand a Christmas. Now, JCPenney and The Salvation Army have joined forces to offer online Angel Tree adoptions. Angel Giving Tree Online provides much needed Christmas gifts to disadvantaged kids and senior citizens across the country, and it's easy to participate. Just visit Angel Giving Tree Online to adopt an angel as an individual or you can join or start a group. In collaboration with UPS, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to a local Salvation Army collection center so you do not need to worry about the cost of shipping the items. In order to ensure that Angels receive their gifts in time for Christmas, all adoptions and merchandise purchases must be made before Dec. 9, 2011; or you have until Dec.13 to buy a JCPenney gift card for your Angel. Additionally, on Thanksgiving and Black Friday (just over a week, yikes!) JCPenney is contributing to the Salvation Army with your help: - On Thanksgiving Day, jcpenney will donate $50 to The Salvation Army, up to $400,000, for every Angel adopted online — giving customers another reason to take advantage of Black Friday specials a day early on jcp.com. - On Black Friday, jcpenney will donate $25 to The Salvation Army, up to $100,000, for every customer who uses Foursquare to check-in to a jcpenney store between 4 a.m. and 1 p.m. To encourage nationwide support and participation, jcpenney will award the community with the most Foursquare check-ins on Black Friday with a celebratory shopping party to be held on Dec. 17. The winning store will host a food truck on-site complete with complimentary snacks and beverages to help energize time-strapped customers shopping jcpenney on the last weekend before Christmas. To celebrate and let people know about the I will be participating in a Twitter party for Angel Giving Tree Online. Join me on twitter on Wednesday, November 16, from 7-8pm EST for a #jcpangel Twitter Party When: Wednesday, November 16 at 7-8 pm EST Hashtag: #jcpangel Hosts: @2wired2tired, @shanamama9197 and @busymom (that's me!) Prizes: 12 winners will each receive a $25 JCP Gift Card Disclosure: I received a gift card for my time. My family and I have chosen from the Angel Tree for many years.

3 MUSKETEERS® Like-Up Nashville

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:18:15 -0600

We could all use more time to do things like travel, sleep and relax. The good folks at 3 Musketeers are giving chances to do just that in Nashville on Thursday, November 10, 2011. Join them, me and lots of Nashville social media friends at the 3 MUSKETEERS® Like-Up at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel at 2100 West End Ave. from 6-8pm where we'll sample chocolate and have food, fun and fellowship! We'll be sampling the new version of the 3 Musketeers candy bar (it still offers 45% less fat than other popular chocolate brands) as well as other festive food and drink. To help you travel, sleep and relax, there'll also be prizes awarded including Spa Finder Gift certificates, and a flight voucher on American Airlines. The Twitter hashtag for the event is #3Musketeers, and feel free to tell others about it on your blog! Chocolate! Friends! Prizes! All are invited, what are you waiting for?! Come on down and bring your friends. Register here, it's free! See you there!

Coca-Cola Arctic Home for Polar Bear Conservation

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:55:52 -0600

A white Coke can? I'm excited to announce that I'm working with two of my favorite companies, Coca-Cola and the World Wildlife Fund this holiday season as an Arctic Home Ambassador. Most of you are probably familiar with the holiday Coca-Cola polar bear, and now Coca-Cola and their longstanding partner, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) are announcing an initiative to help protect the polar bear’s home. Through (has sound) "Arctic Home,” Coca-Cola and WWF are raising awareness and funds to protect the polar bear’s Arctic habitat. Coke is making an initial $2 million donation to WWF for polar bear conservation, and they inviting everyone to make a difference along with them. To call attention to the cause, Coke is turning its iconic red Coke cans white for the first time ever. And you’ll also see white bottle caps on popular Coca-Cola products this holiday season. How can you help? For everyone who texts the package code from the white cans or bottle tops to 357357 to make a $1 donation to WWF, Coke will match it -- up to $1 million! You can also make donations online at ArcticHome.com, starting November 1. The limited-edition white cans and bottle caps will be on store shelves November 1, 2011 to February 2012. Compensation was provided by Coca-Cola, but Coca-Cola is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this post. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of Coca-Cola.