Kraft Pin & Win Festive Desserts!

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On one of two visits to Kraft Kitchens as one of their Delicious Byte Bloggers I learned how to make cookie balls directly from the pros themselves and my interest in all things dessert have grown exponentially from that point on.  So how could I resist sharing the news on their latest contest using another love of mine, Pinterest.

Here is how to enter:

1. Go to pinterest.com/kraftrecipes and follow Kraft.
2. In your PINTEREST profile, create a new board called Kraft Delicious Desserts Recipes Pin and Win. The board name must include Kraft Dessert Recipes and be categorized under Food & Drink.
3. Pin 10 or more of your favorite dessert recipes, from dessert.com OR kraftrecipes.com. Include #kraftrecipes in the description of each pin.
4. Email the URL link of your Kraft Delicious Dessert Recipes Pin and Win board to kraftrecipes-pinterest@kraftapps.com for a chance to win one of ten $200 VISA gift card first prizes OR the grand prize of a $500 VISA gift card.

What dessert would you bring to your holiday festivities? Get Pinning and let Kraft know! All entries must be received between 11/1/12 and11/21/12.
NO Purchase Necessary. Open only to residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 years of age and older. Ends: 11/21/12. For complete details, see the Official Rules here.

Kmart's Fab 15 Must-Have Toys For The Holidays

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I haven't actually purchased any holiday gifts such as toys yet, but I have started browsing a little.  I've always found a great place to start my list is by checking out what Kmart has identified as the next big things on their "Fab 15" Toys list.

This year's Kmart Fab 15 list includes:

1. Air Hogs® Hover Assault by Spin Master
2. Cinderella Enchanted Carriage Vanity by CDI Toys
3. FURBY by Hasbro®
4. FurReal Friends Bouncy, My Happy-To-See-Me Pup by Hasbro® (A Kmart exclusive) 
5. Holiday Brunette Barbie 2012 Doll by Mattel® (A Kmart exclusive)
6. Imaginext Eagle Talon Castle by Fisher-Price®
7. Johnny the Skull Electronic Game by Fotorama
8. LeapFrog LeapPad2® 
9. LEGO® Monster Fighters Vampyre Hearse
10. Master Moves Mickey by Fisher-Price®
11. Monster High® Skultimate Roller Maze? Gift Set (Kmart exclusive)
12. Monsuno Strike Sector Combat Set by Jakks Pacific® 
13. Power Wheels® Hot Wheels Dune Racer (A Kmart exclusive)
14. TWISTER Dance Game by Hasbro® 
15. WWE® Brawlin' Buddies? by Mattel®

Kmart has definitely identified some hot toys this year.  I think I'll be adding a couple of these to our own Christmas shopping list once I check with the kids.  I have a feeling my daughter may be asking for the theTwister Dance Game and the twins could really use a LeapPad2 so they no longer had to share the single LeapPad we have.  They'd also love the Imaginext Castle.
Additionally, we'll have a Furby under our tree.  Kmart sent one along so I could check out one of their fun Fab 15 choices in person.  I've been playing with it in secret while the kids are in school and I must admit it's really rather cool.  The Furby has definitely cbeen updated a bit since the one my brother received on Christmas many years ago.  There is even an app for you can use on your iPhone or iPad to help you feed and speak to it.
Rank your favorites on Kmart's Fab 15 List for a chance to win one of their daily giveaways.


Disclosure:  I was provided with the above mention item to aid in my review, however all opinions expressed are my own.

Living with Food Allergies: Allerbling Food Allergy Awareness Bracelets

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While one of my twin 4 year olds has only been adjusting to life with his peanut allergy since February of this year, I'm by no means new to this rodeo.  My husband and I have had a raised awareness of food allergies since my oldest (who recently turned 18) was age two.  And while I'm not new to the lifestyle, I've by no means stopped seeking out the latest good allergen developments and keeping vigilant on protecting both boys.


In fact, I strongly believe that complacency about food allergies is most commonly how this condition can end up threatening lives.  I frequently look for new safe food items for the kids to try and also do my best to keep up to date on other food allergy awareness items and initiatives.  And you've likely seen me talking all about some of my favorite delicious food allergen free finds right here on my blog along with other foods.

One of my latest food allergy related finds is a customizable awareness bracelet my youngest now proudly wears to school each day.  The Allerbling bracelet reminds my son as well as the school staff that he is allergic to and should avoid tree nuts & peanuts with the use of special charms included with the orange awareness band.  My son has no complaints about wearing it and he has reminded me once or twice I've not placed it on him yet.  I think along with it being comfortable to wear, it actually gives him a little extra comfort to know he has his special Allerbling bracelet on.

Disclosure:  Much thanks to Allerbling for providing this product to me for my review.

Where's Cormac?

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Ever search frantically around the house for one of your children only to have them turn up right next to you completely tuning you out?

I have.

I left in the family room to flip laundry the other afternoon and when I returned I found one a sleep on the couch and the other gone.  I called his name repeatedly while I looked everywhere.  All the while he was under a tiny chair intensely playing on the iPad not far from the couch his brother was snoring on.

Children's Book - The Twelve Days of Christmas in Illinois

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Assembling all the ingredients for some fun family time here in Illinois over the holidays?  Well, add this darling state lore themed children's book to the reading section of your list.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Illinois does a great job of teaching kids (and adults) all about different aspects of this great state of Illinois while rewriting the always popular holiday tune The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Disclosure:  I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher for my review.

'Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted' DVD Review

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If you can get through Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted without singing Marty's now classic "Afro Circus" song -- or at least without it getting stuck in your head so much that you hear it even in the shower -- then you are a way stronger person than I.

The third installment of the DreamWorks Animation franchise, about four New York City Zoo animals who just want to get back home, is another fun take on the whole "fish out of water" -- or, in this case, lion out of Central Park -- theme.

After landing on Madagascar and then dropping down into Africa, Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) are desperate to leave and wind up making their way to Europe -- Monaco, no less -- as a pit stop on their journey back home. The opening scenes of the friends trying to cooly break into the Monte Carlo Casino is a fun, bumbling version of something out of Mission: Impossible.

Soon after, a crazed animal control officer (Frances McDormand) is hot on the gang's trail, and they need to blend in. Stat. Enter a traveling circus, and the Gotham gang are on their way. Not only that, but there's a scheduled stop in the Big Apple to boot. And while there are some intimidating characters on this circus train -- Hello, Bryan Cranston as the no-nonsense tiger Vitaly -- the zoo friends discover that they have a lot to offer this colorful troupe as well.

The two-disc Blu-ray/DVD pack (SRP: $30) is a fun combo that includes the movie, special features and the clever addition of Marty's rainbow wig. (The DreamWorks Animation and Paramount Pictures teams know their audience -- in fact, Ian has already put it on.) In addition to catching the film itself, viewers can see interviews with the cast, directors Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath and Conrad Vernon, as well as see some deleted scenes.

We're definitely a Madagascar-loving household. CC has seen the first two movies I don't know how many times. And while I had to suspend my disbelief quite a bit as the foursome popped up on the coast of Europe (guess that's an easier swim that to the East Coast of the U.S.), the movie is a clever and funny ride.

Big Sister's Coming Around

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CC helps out with the baby.

It turns out that the idea of being a big sister is a lot easier than having the role thrust upon you in real life.

CC has been so excited to have a little brother, but his actual arrival has been a little bumpier than expected -- at least when it comes to sibling love at first sight.

Of course she loves him -- and has said so -- but she's been understandably skeptical about how everything is supposed to work.

Ian and I expected that. And it's OK. She wants to feel loved, secure and that she hasn't been displaced by this tiny little guy. I get it, too. She was our one and only for almost six years.

But over the weekend, she started making her way closer to her brother -- watching me change his diapers, dancing in front of him while one of us held him, and looking him over as he lay in his bassinet.

Now she's gone a big step further. While he was lying down in his Nap Nanny, crying as newborns can, CC grabbed his paci to comfort him. She squatted down to his eye level, handed him the pacifier and talked to him, singing and cooing as his eyes focused on her face, mere inches from his own.

It was amazing to see.