Monthly Archives: March 2012

The Best Meals Happen at Home {Publix Gift Card Giveaway}

Contests, Food and Drink, Giveaways

A busy weeknight doesn’t have to mean that your family nibbles on snacks instead of eating dinner!
I am not a fan of preparing meals that take over 30 minutes to prepare so I was really happy to learn about Publix’s BestMealsatHome.com website recently.

Best Meals Happen at Home

The site features “FASTastic” recipes which can be cooked in 30 minutes or less.  It’s like they create the site just for me!    Publix knows that the best meals happen at home, so they are excited to help busy parents enjoy family mealtime without having to stress about what to prepare or spending hours in the kitchen.

The FASTastic recipe on the site that I was most excited to try is Easy Chicken Enchilada Crescent Bake.   My husband loves Mexican food and It’s not my favorite to I try to compromise by cooking what I call Mexican-ish meals.  The recipe requires minimal ingredients and takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

Easy Chicken Enchilada Crescent Bake
Easy Chicken Enchilada Crescent Bake

Savings Alert!

Look for in-store for coupons at Publix that will be valid through March 28th, 2012.

Visit BestMealsatHome.com to sign-up to receive weekly emails with recipes and coupon offers to help you save up to $200 this year.  All of the meals can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, which is important for busy families.

Publix

Want to win a $25 Publix Gift Card?
This contest has ended.  Congratulations Rebecca G.! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Contest Rules:

  • Entries accepted through 11:59PM EST March 19th, 2012.
  • U.S. Residents only.
  • Ages 21+.
  • No P.O. Boxes
  • Winner must respond to our email within 24 hours to claim their prize.
  • Read The Mommy Insider’s Contest Rules here.  By entering this contest you are agreeing to the rules.

Disclosure:  The Publix gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Staying Connected with the Nokia Lumia 710 {Review and Giveaway}

Contests, Electronics, Gadgets, Giveaways, Smartphones, ,

Nokia Lumia 710 review

My son is 12 going on 16 and I’m seeing more and more that he is wanting to be connected to his friends outside of school.  I am very pleased with his choice in friends so I don’t mind the occasional phone call or text.  I recently received a Nokia Lumia 710 to review and I’ve learned that while Moms and their teenagers may be a generation apart, the Nokia Lumia 710 offers something that every age desires – a great phone that makes it simple to connect with friends. Weighing only 4.4 ounces, this phone is not too heavy for a purse or pocket.  It is available in black or white, but you can dramatically change its look by changing out the Xpress-On covers. These covers come in many colors and fun styles.

Nokia Lumia 710
Nokia Lumia 710 Home Screen

Text messaging is a breeze with the onscreen keyboard. The autocorrect capability of this phone keeps you from worrying about making silly mistakes. Moms like that they can keep in touch with friends and family without endlessly going back to make corrections. Teens like that they can type out messages in a flash!

Nokia Lumia 710 Twitter view
Nokia Lumia 710 Twitter app

The Windows Marketplace has over 55,000 apps to keep you informed, entertained, and productive. Besides Facebook and Twitter, you will also find Foursquare, Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, and just about every other fun game you can imagine. With T-Mobile TV and Netflix available, teens will never be bored again!

Life is full of fun moments; and fun moments were meant to be captured and shared. The 5MP camera, with LED flash, takes excellent pictures and can record stutter-free video. The Twitter and Facebook apps are integrated into the Windows Phone system so posting pictures is a snap. Teens want to go out with their friends, but moms will always worry. With GPS navigation, parents know that their kids won’t get lost while they’re out making those memories.

After all the Facebook updates, Tweets, and text messages, there’s nothing like hearing the voice of someone special on the other end of the call. T-Mobile’s excellent nationwide network ensures that calls come in crystal clear no matter where you are. Whether you’re a teenager, or a teenager’s mom, the Nokia Lumia 710 is the perfect choice for staying connected with the special people in your life.

Want to win a Nokia Lumia 710?

Congratulations to the winner of the Nokia Lumia 710, Melissa T.!

To enter to win tell me what feature of the Nokia Lumia 710 is most exciting to you or why you want to win this phone!

Earn extra entries:

  • 2 entries – Like The Mommy Insider on Facebook
  • 2 entries – Follow Mommy Insider on Twitter
  • 2 entries – Subscribe to our RSS newsletter
  • 3 entries each time – Tweet about this giveaway: “I entered to win a Nokia Lumia 710 on TheMommyInsider.com.  You can enter this #giveaway here: http://bit.ly/TMINokia @mommyinsider”
  • 3 entries each – Enter any of our other contests and let us know which contests you entered in the comments below
  • 5 entries – Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and leave the URL in the comments below.  Do not copy and paste this post into your blog.
  • Be sure to tell us what you’ve done in the comments below.

Contest Rules:

  • Winner is responsible for T-Mobile service.
  • Entries accepted through 11:59PM EST March 31st, 2012.
  • U.S. Residents only.
  • Ages 21+.
  • No P.O. Boxes
  • Winner must respond to our email within 24 hours to claim their prize.
  • Read The Mommy Insider’s Contest Rules here.  By entering this contest you are agreeing to the rules.

 

Alicia Hagan, Editor

 

Disclosure: A received a Nokia Lumia 710 for review purposes.  All opinions stated are my own.

How I’m Incorporating Wholesome Choices into My Daily Routine

Food and Drink, New posts,

Staying busy taking care of kids and work can make it challenging for me to maintain a healthy diet and exercise program.  Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for me to fit wholesome choices into my family’s busy lifestyle and keep everybody healthy and happy.

I am partnering with McDonald’s on their Wholesome Choices Blogger Program.  I have been sharing my own tips and ideas for making more wholesome choices in your every day life and have been making changes in my life as well.

Gardening is great physical activity1 – Eating More Fruits and Veggies

My mother taught me early on that eating two to three servings of fruits and veggies daily has big benefits for your health.  They’re packed with vitamins and minerals, and contain enzymes when they’re fresh that fight inflammation and promote healthy digestion.  That’s why I’m making an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables every day.. even thought I don’t really like vegetables.

Eating a good sized helping of vegetables at dinner will support proper digestion and nutrient absorption, and their rich mineral content will help you sleep deeper so you feel better and can get more done the next day.

2 -Eating Healthier While Out and About

Some fast food restaurants like McDonald’s have responded to consumers’ health concerns by offering menu choices that contain few calories but plenty of nutrition. This means that fast food meals don’t have to be unhealthy when you’re in a hurry but also want something wholesome for you and your family.  McDonald’s offers a variety of whole-grain oatmeal choices on its breakfast menu, available all day. The Fruit & Maple Oatmeal and the Apple Cinnamon Walnut Oatmeal are both 100% natural whole grain oats, rich in fiber and freshly prepared.

3 – Staying Active

Finding ways to incorporate exercise into my daily routine is key to staying in shape and feeling energized throughout the day. Gardening is a great way to do this in the spring and summer. It also provides fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables for your family and you can keep your kids fit by including them in the fun.  Last year we grew watermelons, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, tomatos, and strawberries.  I’m looking forward to the fruits and veggies that we grow this year.

McDonald's Wholesome Choices BloggerOn days when I just don’t feel like getting all geared up for an outdoor or treadmill walk, I do indoor exercises such as running up and down the stairs for 20-30 minutes.  I literally ran laps around the middle level of our house today.

Instead of just sitting on the bleachers during your kid’s soccer or football practice, you can get your exercise in by walking around the soccer or football field or doing calisthenics until it’s time to go.

Follow McDonald’s Atlanta on Twitter @McDonaldsATL and check out their website for real-time promos, meal ideas and how to make the most of your McDonald’s experience.

McDonald’s partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Wholesome Choices” Blogger Program.  As part of the program, I received compensation.  All thoughts and opinions in this post are mine and were not influenced in any way.

I’m Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired!

Health, Personal
Will putting on a pink Tutu, cape, and goggles make me feel better?

I’ve had it with being sick.  I’m over it.  Doneso.  Finito!

I am a very grateful person. I appreciate everything I have.  Like most people, I didn’t come out of the womb a grateful person.  About 10 years ago I was in a car accident that left me with a new outlook on life and a new appreciation for life.  But I have been sick for over 3 months now and I am getting to the point where I can’t fight the depression that comes along with not feeling well, anymore.

I could handle not feeling good for a month or so but 3 months of feeling lethargic, in pain, and scared.. it’s taking a toll on me.   It started in late December and I haven’t felt normal since. I was on meds for a double ear infection and bronchitis in January, two strong meds for the lymph node issue I’m dealing with now, for 21 days in February, and during that time I also had a mild Pneumonia and a Staff infection.  Then only a week later (now) I get Strep.  What gives?  I understand that my body is just worn out and I hate taking anti-biotics so often but I don’t know what else to do. I’m not asking for medical advice.  Just venting I suppose.

I have a business to run, two kids to care for and play with, and a home to keep clean.  I really don’t know how to keep up with it all and get the rest I need, to recover.

How do you stay positive when you’ve been sick for a long period of time?

Alicia Hagan, Editor