Saturday, July 10, 2010

The Never Ending Game of UNO!


My 4 year old daughter loves UNO!  Actually, love may not be a strong enough word.  On a typical day, she plays about 20-30 games of UNO.  Throughout the day she plays with me or my other daughter.  Then when Daddy comes home from work, she can usually convince him to play a few hands.  When we first bought the UNO deck, I knew the she would be excited, but I figured after a few months her focus would turn elsewhere.  But it has now been almost a year since her first UNO game and she is still in love.  What "obsessions" do your little ones have?  Are they fun for you or are you ready to move on?  Grab a latte, put up your feet, and join the discussion!

Tricky Trivia

If you attempted to count the stars in the galaxy at a rate of one every second, it would take you about _________ years to count them all.

Take a guess in the comments below.

Friday, July 9, 2010

My Sweet Girl!

For some reason I had a horrible headache today.  It got to the point where I couldn't even keep my eyes open.  I decided to lie down for a few minutes in hopes of some relief.  Since the girls were playing quietly in their playroom, I didn't say anything to them.  I figured, if they didn't know I was going to my room, they wouldn't follow me.  A few minutes after I closed my eyes, I heard little footsteps come into my room.  My first thought was that my rest time was over, but I was wrong.  My sweet little 4 year old quietly got into the bed next to me and started to rub my head.  I didn't even have to tell her I wasn't feeling well, she just knew.  I sure love that little peanut!

Fabulous Food Friday with Food Floozie

Welcome to Fabulous Food Friday! While exploring the blogosphere, I realized that there were many great recipes to share. So every Friday, I am going to try to feature an awesome blogger with their great recipe! Today’s feature blogger is Yenta Mary from Food Floozie. When you get a chance, swing by Mary's delicious blog. You’ll definitely find something you love!

So here's Yenta Mary and her winning recipe:

Hi, Everyone!!! I am so honored and thrilled to have been invited to write a guest post here at Between the Lines! It's a fabulous site full of warmth and fun, so I'm really excited to have been welcomed ... :) Kelly, you are such a sweetheart!

My site, Food Floozie, is all about ... you got it -- FOOD!!! Recipes, ingredients, cookbooks, restaurants, cooking contests, lunchboxes, and any other tidbits will all find their way into the mix eventually. I describe myself this way in my site's header: "floo·zie \ˈflü-zē\: a usually young woman of loose morals." Thus a Food Floozie is not a woman who can be seduced by virtually any man, but rather a woman who can be seduced by virtually any food (other than sushi). So if it's in any way food-related, I am absolutely there!!!

But on to my mission: sharing a recipe. This one is incredibly easy, and perfect for picnics or barbecues or any other summer adventure that may require a sweet treat. It's a minor variation on one of my favorites, both in terms of taste and in terms of sentimental value -- my Special Mocha Cupcakes were a Grand Prize winner at Taste of Home Magazine in 2007, earning me both a cash prize as well as a trip to New York City (my hometown!) to appear on CBS' "The Early Show." Who knew cupcakes could provide that much fun???

To make them a bit more festive, I've varied them by adding cherries to the batter and adding a decorative cherry on top. Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes ... you can't go wrong with that combination!

Batter:
1-1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup juice from a jar of maraschino cherries
1/2 cup oil
3 teaspoons cider vinegar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup maraschino cherries, drained well and chopped

Topping:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup half-and-half
16 whole maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place 16 paper liners into muffin tins.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Combine the eggs, cherry juice, oil, vinegar and vanilla; pour over the dry ingredients and combine well. Stir in the chopped cherries.

Divide the batter among the paper liners, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean. Let cool completely on a rack.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and the half-and-half. Heat in 60-second intervals until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth when stirred. Place a dollop of the icing onto the center of each cupcake, then nestle a whole cherry in the topping. Let set, then serve to hungry people in need of a chocolate fix!

Makes 16 cupcakes.

Tricky Trivia

Who is the largest employer in the world (employing over 1.6 million people)?


Take a guess in the comments below!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Photo Contest (prize retail: $299.99)!

"Wherever you’re traveling this summer – whether hiking the Grand Canyon, visiting Times Square or ogling the Eiffel Tower in Paris – don’t leave home without Steak-umm Burgers (or at least the box)! Steak-umm “Bon Voyage, Burger!” Photo Contest is looking for the most creative photo of yourself and/or your fellow travelers holding a Steak-umm package anywhere in the world. Just snap the photo and submit it to the Steak-umm “Bon Voyage, Burger!” Photo Contest. The most creative photo gets the prize – the odder or funnier, the better."

 "The winning photog will receive a Samsung DualView TL220 Blue 12.2 Megapixel Digital Camera –$299.99 (MSRP). The contest runs from April 30 through August 15. Winners will be selected by August 25. Entries can be submitted by mail, email, Twitter or Facebook." Visit Steak-umm for full details.

Disclosure:  I received no compensation for this post.  I'm just passing on some information I thought you all may be interested.
 

Blogmania Featured Shop: Tiny Dots



It is time again for another sneak peak at an awesome Blogmania Sponsor. Tiny Dots is a fabulous Etsy shop run and created by Robyn. At Tiny Dots you will find a great variety of Hand-Stamped Jewelry including necklaces and bracelets.






Tiny Dots carries not only the traditional silver Hand-Stamped jewelry, but they also carry jewelry in gold tones. All of the jewelry from Tiny Dots can be personalized in some way. Whether you choose a name, initial, or color and shape of a charm, it can be made just for you.






As an awesome Blogmania sponsor, Robyn from Tiny Dots will be donating an item to the Between the Lines Prize pack. I’m not revealing any of the great prizes yet (necklace..hint, hint.), but swing over to Tiny Dots and check out all of Robyn’s wonderful creations. You will not be disappointed!

Grandparents on the Move

Much to my in-laws excitement, they have finally retired (sort of). They have lived in the same house for over 20 years and have many close, life-long friends. They have also lived close enough for the kiddos to see them once or twice a month. But just a few short weeks back, they finally made the move to their new home in North Carolina. Their new house is in a gated community and is absolutely beautiful. I am so excited that they are getting their dream home, but sad that the kids won’t get to see them as often. I don’t think the girls have noticed yet, but they questions will start soon. I am so thankful for technology, like Skype, that will allow us to keep in touch. What ways do you keep in touch with your love ones? I need all the ideas I can get!!! Grab a latte, put up your feet and join the discussion!

Tricky Trivia

Where can weatherman be fined for an inaccurate forecast?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Don't Miss!



Don't forget to enter this yummy giveaway from Nana's Cookie Company.  Win some healthy cookies for you and your family!  Ends tonight!!!




Don't miss a chance to enter this awesome giveaway from Wild Texas Wear!  Join me in owning a super soft, super chic, t-shirt!  Low entry count!  End 7/9!!!

Sunglass Warehouse Review and Giveaway



When it comes to sunglasses in my house, they are always getting lost or broken. My two girls have a knack for stretching theirs too wide or “borrowing” my and forgetting where they are until someone crunches them. So you can probably guess that I don’t like to spend too much on my sunglasses. At the Sunglass Warehouse, all glasses are under $20 and ship same day (with free shipping on orders over $25)! And don’t worry about finding the right pair. Sunglass Warehouse has you covered. They have information that will help you choose the glasses that are perfect for your face shape and skin tone.



Men's Sport Glasses


Sunglass Warehouse has a huge variety of stylish glasses at low prices. They carry women’s, men’s, and children’s glasses at a lot less than designer brands. But if there is a designer brand you are fond of, they have links that help you compare them. I was lucky enough to be sent a pair of Cat Eye Style Glasses in black to review. These are very different than the glasses I typically buy, so I was a little nervous.


Cat Eye Style Glasses

As you can see, they look great in the picture….but how would they look on my face. AWESOME! Not only do they look great, they are light-weight, comfortable, and they fit! Often I have trouble buying glasses because the bridge of my nose is narrow. The glasses tend to slip off unless they come with an adjustable nose piece. These however fit perfectly. I was also lucky enough to recieve them just two days before going on vacation.  These glasses definitely made relaxing by the pool more...relaxing.


Girl's Purple Glasses

With such affordable price, you have the luxury of buying different styles to go with all your outfits. Or you could be the lucky winner of this giveaway and win a $20 gift certificate to Sunglass Warehouse. Thanks to the generous people from Sunglass Warehouse, one lucky reader of Between the Lines will have the opportunity to try a few pairs of new sunglasses!


Mandatory: Do you want to win the $20 gift certificate? Then visit Sunglass Warehouse and come back and tell me which glasses you would love to win.


Extras: (Remember each entry must have a separate comment and an email address is needed to contact winner.)

~Follow Sunglass Warehouse on Twitter (2)
~ Follow Sunglass Warehouse on Facebook (2)
~ Follow Sunglass Warehouse’s Blog (2)
~Follow Between the Lines (3)
~ Subscribe to my email (5)
~ Grab my button and leave a link of where it’s displayed (5)
~Add me to your Blogroll and leave a link (5)
~Follow me on Twitter (2)
~ Enter another one of my giveaways (2 each)
~Tweet this giveaway leaving me your link. (3x a day not back to back) (1 entry each)
~Blog about this giveaway and leave me a link (10)
~Make a purchase from Sunglass Warehouse (10)



This giveaway will end on July 23rd @10p.m Eastern

*This giveaway is open to US and Canada only. Winner will be chosen randomly. An email notification will be sent to the email address provided by the winner. The winner must respond within 48 hours. Failure to do so will result in being disqualified and a new winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary pair of glasses in exchange for my honest review. The opinions & thoughts expressed are my own. I received no other compensation for my review nor was I under any obligation to give a positive review.

Recipe Corner: Hamburger Steaks

This recipe is very similar to Beef Stroganoff. My mom used this recipe a lot when I was younger and I still use it today. It is actually my husband favorite recipe. It is very easy to make and yummy to eat. I hope you enjoy it! And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com ) .


Ingredients

- 1.5 pounds of lean ground meat (I sometimes use chicken, but usually beef)
- ½ cup of seasoned bread crumbs or Rolled Oats
- ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce
- Dash of pepper
- Dash of Seasoned Salt (I prefer Country Bob’s)
- 3 packets of Brown Gravy
- 3 cups of water
- 2 -4 TBS of Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup of sour cream
- 6 serving of cooked rice or cooked noodles
 - Add mushrooms or onions if you like (my family doesn't like :)
Directions

- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- In a large mixing bowl, mix meat, bread crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and seasoned salt.
- Form into 6 patties and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes (I use foil on my cookie sheet to make clean up easier).

- While patties are cookie, prepare rice/noodles and gravy. Follow instructions on gravy packets except add the 2-4 TBS of Worcestershire sauce. When gravy is done, remove from heat and add sour cream.
- Place patties on a bed of rice/noodles and cover with gravy.

Tricky Trivia

Which two states have the most presidential burial sites?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Summer Learning Series: Fruit Loop Rainbow


Every child loves summer. Summer is a time for playing outside, swimming in the pool, and hanging out with your friends. Unfortunately, summer is also a time when kids lose a lot of what they learned during the previous year of school. As an elementary school teacher, it was frustrating to watch my students struggle at the beginning of each year with objectives that they had mastered the previous year. As a parent, I want to make sure that this doesn’t happen to my children. This summer, I will be setting aside a little time each day for some fun learning activities for my kids. Starting in June, check in each Tuesday if you are looking for some activities for your kids. I will be posting a few things we did the previous week to share. Also if you are interested in doing the same thing, I would love to link up with all you creative moms out there! Just shoot me an email and let me know you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com ) Let’s work together to help our children have a fun, but educational summer!


All little girls love rainbows. My girls love the colors and the fact that they are easy to draw. Most often, you can find some sort of rainbow gracing the pages of their art and coloring pages. The rainbows are never standard, of course. Some have two colors, some have ten. And you would have a hard time finding any rainbow that had the colors in the same order. So this week, we worked on the colors of the rainbow.




For our big project, I decided to use Fruit Loops. The only problem with Fruit Loops is that there are no indigo ones. So I made sure I taught them the colors first before starting our rainbow craft. For those of you who don’t know this helpful little trick, my kids learned the name ROY G. BIV. Mr. ROY G. BIV helps us remember the correct order of the rainbow. My girls thought it was pretty funny that our rainbow had a name, but whatever works, right!?!



After drawing a rainbow for your child, label it with Mr. ROY G. BIV. This will help them glue the cereal in the correct place. For younger children, you may want to do a sorting activity first. Help them put the colored pieces in separate piles. For older children, just pour them a pile of fruit loops and let them at it. Glue the cereal pieces on, one at a time to create a yummy (yet not edible) rainbow.



After the rainbow is done, allow it 20-30 minutes to dry before picking it up. Otherwise you may have a saggy rainbow. Hope you enjoy making Mr. ROY G. BIV. Happy Learning!

Recipe Corner: Easy Mexican Casserole

My family loves Mexican food. I think my husband would be happy to eat tacos every night of the week. I’ve come up with several alternatives to tacos, but that still use taco seasoned meat. This recipe is a little different for him, but he still enjoyed it. And don’t forget to contact me if you are interested in having your blog and your yummy recipe featured in a Fabulous Food Friday Post. Whether you bake it, sauté it, or just microwave it, send it in! Share your yummy food and you may find yourself with new visitors. Please email me directly if you are interested. (betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com) Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (15 ounce) can sweet corn, drained
• 3 1/2 cups cooked egg noodles
• 1 (15.25 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup taco sauce
• 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce


Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until evenly brown; drain.

3. In a 9x13 inch baking dish combine the beef, corn, salsa, cooked noodles, beans, taco sauce, seasoning mix and tomato sauce.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 1/2 hour, or until cooked through.

Tricky Trivia

Which country requires their citizens to have a bomb shelter or access to a bomb shelter?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Pink Dandy Review and Discount Code



Every girl and woman is a sucker for things that smell good. We all have our weaknesses. Some prefer the smell of flowers or fresh fruit. I, however, am a slave to the smell of dessert!!! Baked goods, ice creams, and even icing on its own (I know I’m weird…). No matter what scent you prefer, Pink Dandy has the perfect product for you.


Pink Dandy carries a great variety of lotions, candles, roll on perfumes, bath products, and much more. All of her products are phthalate free and animal friendly (vegan products). “Pink Dandy is a spin off company of Raw Beauty that was created by Janae Chang in 2004. What really sets Pink Dandy apart from other bath and beauty products is that we maintain consistent quality in each and every product, ensure that our products are made with rich, natural ingredients and are knowledgeable about our customers wants and needs in skincare and candle products.

 
Janae was kind enough to send me a bottle of her Lightly Whipped Silk Lotion and Pink Lace Roll On Perfume Oil. It was very difficult to choose a scent that I wanted to try. I knew I would pick something from her Dessert list, but since they all sounded so yummy, it was hard to decide. Raspberry White Truffle? Or Pink Sugar Cubes? I finally let my girls decide. After reading them the list, they chose Strawberry Smoothie! With a combination of strawberries and vanilla ice cream, I was very pleased with their choice. The lotion is very light and goes on smoothly leaving your skin soft and moisturized. The scent is delicious, but not overpowering. My girls are in love with the roll on perfume oil. The light strawberry scent is perfect for those of us who don’t care for the flowery perfume smells.




I’ve already started my shopping cart for my next order. I think I am going to try one of her candles, bath bombs, and some more lotion. For your next order, Janae has provided the lucky readers of Between the Lines a discount code to use at her online store. Simply enter PRLOVE with your order before July 31 to receive 15% off.  She also includes free samples with each order!  Also don’t forget to also check out her Etsy shop and leave her some love!


Disclosure: I received sample products for this review. No other compensation was provided and a positive review was not required.

Tricky Trivia

Pearls melt in ___________________?

Take a guess in the comments below!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Silent Sunday




Last Day of Gymanstics.

Simple Sunday Twitter Hop



Simple Sunday Twitter Hop 
Hosted by Survey Junkie & Between the Lines 

Grab a cup of coffee & join us every Sunday !!
Starting this week we will be drawing a random #3 Spot from all blogs linked :)  

Photobucket


How it Works

  1. Add your Twitter url  ( not blog )
  2. Follow the 2 Hosts ( we will follow back )
  3. Then follow as many others as you would like 
  4. & follow everyone back that follows you  :)
  5. Also feel free to grab out twitter button on my sidebar!

Link up every Sunday at 12:00 am est !!