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Family Movie Night ♥

February 2, 2015 by Fotini Filed Under: ad, family movie night, PMedia, Pop Secret popcorn, sponsored post, The Boxtrolls

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Universal Pictures, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BoxtrollsFamilyNite http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”Spending time with my little ones is one of my absolute favorite things! Despite all those things that so honestly come with motherhood, like cleaning up tons of messes and saying the same thing over again… You get the point! Well, that makes spending time together that much more important!

We try at least twice a month to have a family movie night each time letting each person pick the movie. This week was my turn and I was just thrilled to show the kids the movie we would be watching! Not only that, but Christian had a buddy spending the night and I knew he would be that much more excited! While I was shopping at Walmart, I snagged the new movie The Boxtrolls that had been released that day! I picked up a few more goodies for our movie night, like 10 count Pop Secret movie theatre butter popcorn. It’s pretty much the bomb and amongst the best popcorn I’ve ever tasted! So, the time came for us to watch our movie, and when I told the kids we were watching The Boxtrolls, they were so excited! I also thought it would be fun to play a little game to keep them interested and paying attention to the movie! Every time they heard the word “eggs” they had to break out into a dance. This was super adorable to watch! And if you have seen the movie, you know that word is used often in the movie. If you haven’t seen it, let this be your next pick for family movie night!! The little ones gave it 2 thumbs up!

My two clearly can’t take their eyes off the movie!!

So lets review: Head to Walmart to pick up your copy of The Boxtrolls on DVD while supplies last. While you’re there, don’t forget to grab some 10 count Pop Secret movie theatre butter popcorn. And most importantly, enjoy movie night with your family!

Thankful Apple Pie and an Easy Clean Up!

November 13, 2014 by Fotini Filed Under: ad, apple pie recipe, cleaning products, Mrs.Meyers Clean Day, natural products, sponsored post, Thanksgiving recipe

This is a sponsored post. All opinions and views are my own!

Just like so many, I spend a lot of time prepping food for the Holidays, Christmas parties and cookie exchanges. I enjoy the time in the kitchen, whipping together tasty treats my friends and family will enjoy! You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen making things by scratch. There’s nothing wrong with using store bought ingredients like pie filling and pie crust, and just adding your touch to it! Today I’m sharing a simple apple pie recipe and my go-to product for clean up time!

You’re going to need two cans of apple pie filling, one package (containing 2 rolls) of pre-made pie crust, brown sugar, cinnamon, one egg, pie dish, cookie cutters, butter knife and rolling pin. Start by unrolling your first pie crust and putting it into your pie dish, thumbing off any extra dough and saving it for later. Use a fork to prick holes throughout the crust and bake according to the instructions. While that’s baking, mix both of your cans of apple pie filling, a teaspoon of brown sugar and a few dashes of cinnamon together. Your baking pie crust should be done in less than 14 minutes, allow to cool for a couple minutes and then fill with your apple pie filling. Take the remaining pie crust and lay over top of your pie, again, thumbing off any extra. Using a butter knife, cut at least four slits across the top. Take all extra pie crust you have, rolling it into a ball in your palms. Using parchment paper, take your ball of pie crust and flatten it out using a rolling pin. Use your cookie cutters to cut out whatever word you choose, I chose “thankful”. Lay the letters on top of your pie. Spread egg wash over your entire crust (one egg and water mixed) and bake according to filling instructions. Once complete remove from oven and allow to cool about 15 minutes before serving. Serve with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!

And one of the most important things after all that time in the kitchen, is clean up time! I do love spending time cooking in the kitchen, but a clean kitchen makes me happy too! Your home is what you make it. A source of joy and inspiration. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® is made for all beautiful aspects of your home! And that’s why I trust it and love it to clean my home! There are so many things I love about Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® products. The packaging is darling, it cleans impeccably, but one of my favorite things is how it smells. My favorite is the , it smells incredible!! It leaves my kitchen smelling fantastic and my counters sparkling. The is my favorite scent and naturally cleans my dishes. Something awesome about this product is they’re made with essential oils from flowers and herbs. All products are earth friendly, cruelty free and never tested on animals. Are you sold yet? I honestly believe, if you haven’t tried Mrs.Meyer’s Clean Day® products you’re missing out!

Keep everyone happy this Holiday season (and every season) with a fresh, clean home!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mrs.Meyers Clean Day®.

Potty Training Tips & Cottonelle

February 3, 2014 by Fotini Filed Under: ad, Cottonelle, Cottonelle toilet paper, PMedia, Pollinate Media Group, potty training, potty training tips, sponsored post

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Cottonelle but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CtnlCareRoutine http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO”

I have to admit, when it came time to start potting training my daughter I was thrilled at the thought of no more diapers, but terrified of the potty training process. I potty trained my son when he was two and a half in one weekend, he was a breeze! My daughter on the other hand is a little more headstrong and more willing to put up a fight, which I normally give into. I knew I couldn’t give into her easily when it came to the potty training or it would be a daunting task for all of us, so here’s what worked best for us!

Buy a training potty and create some excitement about it! Don’t push using it quite yet, we kept it in the kids bathroom so she saw it every time she brushed her teeth and took a bath. I let it peak her interest and use it when she was ready.
Let them go bare butt! I’m sure some won’t agree with this, but it worked like a charm. No rushing to pull down undies in time and they won’t like peeing on themselves.
Put the training potty in a place that you spend most of your time, like the living room or playroom,etc. We spend the majority of our time in our living room, so I put a towel down on our tile near the fireplace and kept the potty there at all times. This is what really sparked her using it! When she had the urge to go, she just ran right to it and then just went back to playing or whatever she was doing before!
Reward them for using the potty successfully! Whether you use a potty chart, give them a sticker every time they go potty or even a small treat will excite them!
Introduce underwear! She was so excited when we went to the store and I let her pick out her big girl undies! Buy at least two packs, you will thank me later 😉
After a little time, start to move the potty closer each day to the actual bathroom. Our half bath is on the other side of the house, so it was a long way for her to make it when she was just getting used to using the potty! Now she makes it there with no problem 🙂
Encourage using toilet paper every time after going potty for little girls and the use of a cleansing cloth after going “no.2” for both boys and girls. Encouraging and enforcing good, clean potty habits are something they will use the rest of their life!

As always, BE PATIENT! I had to wipe up a lot of pee when we first got started, washed a lot of soiled undies, but it WILL get better! Just be persistent and patient!

Now she only wears a diaper at nap and bedtime. She’s came a long way and I’m so proud of her! She loves wearing her big girl undies and using the potty by herself! When it came about to have the opportunity to write a post for Cottonelle and the new cleansing cloths, it was the perfect fit!

I keep the Cottonelle cleansing cloths in our half bath, which is the restroom we use the most. I keep it on the sink for a mid-day pick me up for ourselves and/or guests, which is still in perfect reach for Isabella to grab when using her little potty! Let’s face it, kids are lousy wipers and I encourage my son to use them for an extra clean feeling too! I was a little surprised after coming home one afternoon, my husband said he even tried it out, shhh! He also complimented the clean scent they give off!

Long story short, the wipes encourage good, clean potty habits and that keeps everyone happy 🙂

I can honestly say after using many different brands of toilet paper, Cottonelle is the best overall! It is soft, strong and affordable!

Head to Walmart and snag yours today! But, before you go, be sure to print off your coupon! Also, when you purchase both items in the month of February (toilet paper and cleansing wipes) from Walmart, you will receive a $5 Vudu offer, woot woot! You can get more information by going to: www.DRVSusa.com/cottonellemovies

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Cottonelle but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CtnlCareRoutine http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO”

Kids Halloween Party, The Games!

October 26, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: ad, Cottonelle toilet paper, diy, Halloween party games, kid Halloween games, PMedia, Pollinate Media Group, sponsored post

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Cottonelle, but all opinions are my own. http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Trick-or-treat comes and goes so quickly, it seems like the little ones don’t actually get to enjoy it much! This year I had the idea of hosting a kids costume party for my little ones, friends and family to enjoy! With that in mind I headed to none other than, Target to get some goodies! While I was there I picked up the new Cottonelle Triple Roll toilet paper to use for decor and for games. Be sure to grab yours too, and take advantage of the promotional offer “Buy Cottonelle Triple Rock 12 pack or larger and receive a FREE box of Kleenex”, while supplies last! Coupon here!

And that brings me today’s post, the games! Of course, this is the best part of the party for the kids!! We had a variety of ages, from 1-12, so I wanted the games to be functional and fun for everyone! The games were played inside the house since it’s like Winter outside (ah!), luckily I planned for that!

First we played pumpkin bowling! I stacked six rolls of the Cottonelle Triple Roll up pyramid style. I glued cute little googly eyes on them so they appeared as “ghosts”! We noticed unlike the picture below, separating the rolls so there is more of a gap in between them is easier for the kids to knock down. I used a mini pumpkin and removed the stem.

Next we played Halloween bingo and did the piñata! Oh, how fun that was!

Next up was the Mummy wrap! It was so much fun to watch the little ones work together in creating their own Mummy in 60 seconds! For this game we used two rolls per team. This was by far their favorite game of the night! After each team finished their Mummy, we saw who could get out of it the quickest! Then it seems we had a slight toilet paper fight, so fun! I will share all the printables I created for each game in another post next week, so check back!

The last game we played was pin the tail on the black cat! I used a black poster board, drew and cut out the shape of the cat. I glued on googly eyes and used different lengths of fish line for the whiskers! I wrapped the cat up like a Mummy too, and it was just adorable!

I also used a few pieces of toilet paper to embellish the sides of my picture frames to “Mummy-fy” them a bit! Who knew with a little bit of creativity and a pack of toilet paper, you could create fun for an entire party?

I will be sharing the full party and details next week! I hope to see ya back then 😉

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{ Chicken Noodle Casserole }

September 5, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: chicken noodle casserole, comfort food, Country Crock, dinner, family dinner, quick dinner, sponsored post 10 Comments

Now that the kids are back to school and your schedule is busier than ever, you’re probably looking for a quick, delicious dinner the whole family will love, right?! Well you’re in luck! Today I’m sharing one of my favorite casseroles to make on those busy nights.

Chicken noodle casserole, the perfect filling, tasty goodness! Here’s what you’ll need:

1 package of egg noodles
1 large can of shredded chicken
frozen peas and carrots
1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup and water
8 oz. light sour cream
1-2 tablespoons original Country Crock
1 package butter crackers, crushed
salt and pepper to taste

Start by cooking your egg noodles as directed on the package. In a mixing bowl combine sour cream, frozen peas and carrots, cream of mushroom soup, water (I fill my empty soup can almost full of water), chicken and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well. Preheat oven to 375. Drain egg noodles and pour into a 13×9 casserole dish. Pour veggie/cream mix onto noodles, covering the noodles entirely. Top with crushed butter crackers and 1-2 tablespoons Country Crock. Bake for 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

I always love to make corn muffins with this meal too and doll them up with, none other than, Country Crock! This makes the perfect meal for Fall coming up and all those busy school nights! I’m sure this meal will be kid and hubby approved 😉

Country Crock has 0g trans fat per serving
Contains no partially hydrogenated oils
Has no cholesterol
Is 70% less fat than butter per serving
And has 30% fewer calories than butter per serving

Stay connected with Country Crock:

Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Duck Tape® Embellished School Supplies!

August 21, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: angry birds, angry birds duck tape, Duck Tape, embellishments, school supplies, sponsored post, The Duck Brand, Walmart 9 Comments

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the kids going back to school, comes all new school supplies! Today I’m going to share with you how you can easily personalize your kids supplies using Duck Tape®, in a way they will love!

I don’t shop at Walmart often, but I was pleasantly surprised their craft selection and their Duck tape® selection! My son immediately spotted angry birds Duck Tape® and smiled from ear to ear. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble picking out a favorite, there are so many to choose from!

While we were at Walmart we also grabbed some school supplies we needed, you can’t beat the prices! Once we were home we gathered all the new school supplies we had bought and started embellishing them with the angry bird Duck Tape®! We added a few pieces to his clipboard, pencil pouch and binder. He was so excited with how it turned out, and I was one happy Mama because it was super simple and affordable!

You can also use hole punches or decorative scissors to create some really unique designs or even an initial! My son informed me that it was too “girly” for him 😉

So, let’s review:

Duck Tape is awesome because you can easily dress up your kids school supplies!
You have a huge selection to choose from!
buy Duck Tape at Walmart
Get creative and have fun!

For more creative inspiration, be sure to follow Duck Tape on Twitter: @TheDuckBrand

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{ Diamond Candle Giveaway!! }

August 12, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: blog feature, candles, diamond, diamond candle, Diamond candles, giveaway, sponsored giveaway, sponsored post 2 Comments

I am a huge candle lover! I burn candles year round and love the cozy, warm feel they provide!

I think candles make great gifts too! Whether it be for a housewarming gift, birthday or other special occasion. You can’t go wrong by giving a candle 😉

I’m excited to announce that one lucky winner will win a Diamond Candle!

Have you heard of Diamond Candles? They are all natural and made from 100% soy.

The concept is perfect for any woman! Every candle includes a ring valued at $10-$5,000.

Yup, that’s right, every candle! How cool is that?! So not only do you get to enjoy the amazing scent of your candle as it burns, but you get a prize for burning it!!

I just love it ♥ ♥

There are tons of scents to choose from!! I ordered cinnamon roll, I’m kinda craving Fall 🙂
I could smell it’s amazingness before I even unwrapped it! It smells divine!

Enter for your chance to win one now!!
Good luck 🙂

Follow Diamond Candles: Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{ Have Your Pictures & Enjoy Them Too! }

June 12, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: free, Groovebook, photobook, picture book, pictures, sponsored post 3 Comments

This is a sponsored post and all opinions are my own.

If you’re one of the many who own a smartphone, you’re going to want to download the latest app Groovebook. Groovebook is an app that allows you to upload your desired photos straight from your phone and they create your very own photobook! If you know me, you know I’m crazy about photos and take tons with my iPhone, so I was really excited to give Groovebook a try!

The process is simple, download the free app on your phone and create a profile. You can manually select your desired photos, up to 100 pictures. By signing up, you can have your photos sent to you monthly for FREE, only pay $2.99 for shipping! The photobooks are 4×6 photos with perforated sides for easy removal! That just might be my favorite part 🙂 It’s so easy to take out your favorite photos to add to frames, give as gifts or DIY projects!

Just for my viewers, Groovebook has created a code where you will receive your first Groovebook absolutely FREE! No charges, free shipping and a free photobook!!! Use code: GLAMOROUSGROOVE at checkout.

So what are you waiting for?! Go give it a try!!!

{ Hello Summer: Ice Cream Cone Cakes! }

June 3, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: Betty Crocker, cakes, dessert, favorite desserts, ice cream cone cakes, kid friendly desserts, kids cakes, sponsored post, summer 6 Comments

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Well, the warm weather is here! I’m sure you’re going to be celebrating birthdays, graduations, barbeques, family gatherings and more this Summer. If you’re searching for a simple, yet delicious dessert, I’ve got just the thing for you!!

I wanted to make the last day of school for Christian a special one, so I invited a few of his friends over to have a little “school is out” party! I thought it would be a lot of fun to make ice cream cone cakes! They are really easy to make and I let the kids decorate their own!

Here’s what you’re going to need:

1 box of Betty Crocker SuperMoist party rainbow chip cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs (as directed on the cake box)
24 ct. flat- bottom ice cream cones
1 container Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy frosting
cupcake pan

I gathered the kids around the kitchen island and allowed each of them to help by adding all the ingredients and stirring the batter. When making cupcakes, I always prepare the batter in a spouted measuring cup so it’s easy to pour into the pan. Fill each muffin cup about two-thirds full and place an ice cream cone upside down into the batter; repeat for remaining. Bake at 350 for for 16-22 minutes. Allow cakes to cool completely.

While the cakes were cooling, I set up a few ingredients on the kitchen table for the kids to decorate them with! We had icing, sprinkles, M&M’s and cherries. The kids had so much for decorating them, and I had a blast watching them! This is the perfect idea for a kids birthday party, setting up all the ingredients and allowing each child to create their own!

I think we had a pretty successful celebration! The kids agreed by giving a big thumbs up 🙂

For step-by-step instructions for this recipe, click here to be re-directed to the Betty Crocker Pinterest page!

For more fantastic summer recipes, check out Betty Crockers favorites here!

{ Sponsored Post: 5 Audacious & Creative Card Craft Ideas }

April 26, 2013 by Fotini Filed Under: audacious card ideas, craft cards, creative card ideas, DIY cards, sponsored post Leave a Comment

{5 Audacious and Creative Card Craft Ideas }

Whether you have a surprise birthday party or a baby shower coming up, you’re really hoping to surprise the guest of honor with your present. On top of the gift, you also want to have an awesome card. When you want to be bold and crafty, check out these audacious and creative card craft ideas.

A Jumbo Card

Do you remember those huge pieces of poster board that you would use when you gave presentations in elementary school? Look into purchasing one of them, and then you can fold the card in half. No matter if you want to put a romantic or a hysterical message on it, the recipient is sure to get a couple of chuckles and laughs out of the size of the card.

Collage Cards

People love gifts that are personalized to them, and they enjoy knowing that the gift giver really put a lot of thought into the items. Therefore, make a collage of the recipient’s favorite foods, colors, sports and so forth. You can tailor this a bit to the occasion. For example, if it’s a bridal shower for your best friend, you can include pictures of her and her fiance together over the years.

Non-card Cards

Instead of giving the traditional card, find something that is a little bit out of the ordinary. It’s always wise to have an identifying mark, especially at a party where the guests are giving so many presents. However, instead of a card, you could buy a roll of paper and make a list of all the reasons why the person has a special place in your life. Another option is to write out a message in pieces of candy or with those Candy Hearts and attach them to a piece of paper for the recipient.

Food Cards

Most people love edible gifts, and you can incorporate this into your card giving strategy. Let’s say that you have a friend who absolutely adores cookies. Instead of just baking a plate of cookies, make a cookie cake. You can spell out a special message on the cake in place of a greeting card. Be careful where you place these baked goods though. They could get completely crumbled and crack if they are accidentally placed at the bottom of a pile of gifts.

Cards from Kids

If your children are going to the party, have them make their own special cards. They could do a card full of stamp art, or they might use a potato to make different designs on a piece of construction paper. Give them some creativity, but make sure you write their names on the card so that the person knows who made these beautiful little works of art.

These crafty card ideas are excellent ways to show your creative side and to have a little bit of fun. After all, getting gifts is going to be fun for the guest of honor, so why can’t you have a little bit of excitement while you are putting everything together?

Author Pam Johnson is a counselor who promotes art as an outlet for dealing with stress. She also enjoys blogging and is a contributing writer for bestschoolcounselingdegrees.com