Cooking with Coca-Cola

I think we all have those distinctive tastes and smells that instantly take us back to childhood. For me, it's the taste of Coke. We had soda in our house from time to time growing up, but whenever we went to my grandmother's house we loaded up. To this day, when I open a can of coke I feel like it's Thanksgiving or Christmas at my grandparent's house. My grandmother shops at Sams Club and bought Cokes in bulk, so there was always plenty to go around. I was always afraid of drinking it too much during other times of the year and losing the "special" factor that I always associated its taste.

As I've gotten older, I've learned that there are tons of other great uses for Coca Cola, aside from a dinnertime beverage or a tasty Coke Float. Have you ever tried Ham Steaks marinated and baked in Coke? Mmmmm, super tasty and delicious. It's an oh-so-easy adaptation of the classic tastes of Coke.

If desired, you can marinate the ham overnight in the refrigerator. I like to place the ham in a large zip-lock bag or sealable container and then pour in half a can of coke. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. The next day, you can drain out the Coke from the marinade and place the ham in a baking dish. Pour half a can of Coke over the ham and cover. Bake for 4-5 hours at 275.

The Coke gives the ham a nice flavor and I think helps make it more tender and juicy. Plus, it’s super, duper easy. As the busy mom of a preschooler, I’m always on the look-out for easy family recipes.

There are tons of great ways to incorporate this fun soda into everyday family recipes. Now that summer is quickly approaching, why not try a Coke Pop?  Pour a can of coke into a popsicle mold and stick it in the freezer until they are solid. If you don’t own plastic popsicle molds, you can always fill a Dixie cup with soda, cover the top with saran wrap and stick a popsicle stick down the center. When the popsicle is frozen, simply peel away the paper cuper.

What are some ways your family cooks with Coke? Check out www.cookingwithcoke.com for more ideas!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program,click here." 

Bright Beginnings now available on Diapers.com

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

Diapers.com offers a hug assortment of baby care products and they've recently started carrying Bright Beginnings formula. They also offer an organic, milk-based formula which includes DHA and ARA which help support healthy brain and eye development. I was fortunate enough to be able to nurse my son, but it's great to have options to provide nutrition to the little ones we care for if the mother is unable to nurse or does not desire to. You can read what other parents have to say about Bright Beginnings Formula by checking the reviews on Diapers.com. 

Bright Beginnings also offers Premium, Gentle, and Soy formulas in addition to their Organic selections. You can by individual cans or even purchase formula by the case. There are tons of great promotional codes out there for Diapers.com to help save your family money when you buy on diapers.com.  

Feel free to visit Bright Beginnings on Facebook where you can learn about the product and online deals. I've found that company Facebook pages are fantastic ways to learn about money-saving promotions and new products and services. You can even take a look at the nutrition content labels for their various formulas. 

Where does the time go??

First off, I want to apologize for being a bit of a negligent blogger over the last few months. Things have been absolutely crazy in our house the last several weeks. Since January, we have purchased our first home and we are just weeks away from welcoming home baby boy #2. The last several weeks have been a flurry of activity and busyness.

I don't know why I have felt the urge to totally renovate the house while in the third trimester, but the urge had to be satisfied. We have now painted the kitchen, living room, office, master bedroom and bathroom. I've swapped out light fixtures. Re-tiled and painted a built-in bar. Wall-mounted a television in the living room. As of last night, I also sewed curtains for the nursery. I plan on posting pictures of my frugal home improvements on the blog as I get the time. I'm a big fan of cheap DIY projects (my budget is a big fan of them too!)

So now after a frenzy of activity, this mama is pooped. So what am I doing during nap-time? Writing on my blog. Who cares that there are dishes in my sink and that my laundry basket is overflowing. . . they'll still be there in five minutes.

I'm so super excited to meet this little boy. This pregnancy has just absolutely flown right by! Pretty soon our family of three will become a family of four. So, bear with me if posts are a little scarce over the next few weeks. I promise I'm not giving up, I'm just going to be focusing on family for a bit (and on recouping the sleep I've been missing for the last several months)!

Spring is in the air! Outdoor furniture has arrived at Pier 1

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have LOVED having a backyard in our new home. After a year in an apartment with no yard, my whole family has thoroughly enjoyed having a bit of outdoor space to call our own. Unfortunately, we have absolutely no outdoor furniture. 

Pier 1 has recently released this season's newest outdoor furniture products. There are some super cute new things available. I'm on the lookout for some seating and a small table. Some of the items on my wishlist include the Banana Settee and Armchair.  A great outdoor entertaining/seating area would be on my list of must haves for the Spring season. Fortunately, a lot of the furniture, rugs, and wall art is actually indoor/outdoor which means I can also use it in my sun room during the colder winter months. 

If you already have outdoor furniture, you can always easily update your look by changing out the seat cushions. I like the Deluxe Kaeden style, which range is price from $24 for a seat cushion to $90 for a settee cushion. A new cushion can give your outdoor seating a completely new look. There are also a ton of cushions currently on sale! 

I also love the look the outdoor double Papasan chairs. It looks like a great way to enjoy a spring evening. There is room for two, and plenty of comfort with the tufted cushion. They also offer something called a Swingasan, which is basically a hanging papasan chair.  You can purchase a chair stand so that you hang swing just about anywhere. 

There are a ton of great products from Pier 1  to help make your outdoor living space one of your favorite places to spend your spring!

Pier 1 Tweetups

Yay for Peeps

I think we've all had them at some point in our lives - those fluffy, yellow, marshmallowy little birds known as Peeps. I remember getting them in my easter basket as a child. They were pretty much a staple every year. I would try to make them last as long as possible. A little nibble here, a little nibble there, but inevitably they'd be gone withing 5 minutes.

As I got older, I got a kick out of sticking the pink bunnies in the microwave and watching them mutate into giant bunnies a la Ghost Buster's style. Sure, they're pretty much pure sugar, but they are also an Easter basket right of passage.

There are tons of fun things to do with Peeps. Our local MOPS group is considering an Easter craft which creates an edible diorama - S'mores in a jar.

1. Take a basic mason jar.
2. Crumble up a sleeve of graham crackers.
3. Place 2/3 of the graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of the jar.
4. Add 1/4 cup of M&Ms - using green ones make it look like grass, but any holiday colors would be equally festive.
5. Arrange 8-12 peeps (bunnies work great)around the perimeter of the jar.
6. Place the remaining graham cracker crumbs in the center of the peep circle to help hold them in place. You'll want to press the crumbs down to help it stay more secure.
7. Add 1 1/4 cup of M&Ms on top.
8. Top it off with 1/3 cup of Brown sugar and fill any remaining space with M&Ms.

Here's what you can put on the tag:
Holiday S'MORES
1. Empty contents of the jar into a bowl. Cut the peeps into bits with kitchen shears or
cut up with a knife. Return the bits to the mixture. Mix well.
2. Melt 1/2 cup butter; add 1 teaspoon vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients,
mixing well. Pat into a greased 8" or 9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15
minutes. Cool and cut into bars.

Sounds pretty tasty, huh! I first learned about this from a site called designswithheart.net. There is a huge collection of jar based recipes for gift giving and since Peeps come out for a variety of different holidays, these jars can be customized all year long!

Did you know that Peeps now has an online store called Peeps & Co. where you can find all sorts of fun candy inspired products!


Enjoy this exclusive offer for SocialMoms: Use this promo code at checkout - SMSPRING11 for 20% off all of your purchases until 5/4/11!




“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and PEEPS blogging contest, for a chance to get a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” 

How do you keep your family happy?

"Money can't buy happiness."

Well, if money can't buy it, then where can we find it? Happiness doesn't have to be an elusive thing. There are several simple, no-money-required, things that the average family can do to help foster an attitude happiness. Here are a few of my favorite "happy makers."

1. Begin a dinnertime tradition. I recently read in a magazine about a family that makes it a point to share "What I like about you." It can be simple as saying: "Do you know what I like about you?" Share praise for those special qualities, characteristics and attitudes that you admire. I think this is a great way to promote happiness among those in your household.
2. Focus on people, not things. Things can be fun, but they cannot guarantee happiness. Focus your family's attention on building relationships and memories, not in acquiring more "stuff." Perhaps consider taking a family trip instead of buying more video games (unless of course video-gaming is a family activity).
3. Cut the complaining. I could definitely use some improvement in this area. It’s not too hard to find something to complain about. If you’re looking for something negative, you’ll be able to find it without too much difficulty. Instead, if you focus on the positive attributes (whether in an individual or a situation) you’ll find contentment and happiness much easier to find.
4. Moms: Take some time for yourself.  As busy parents, it’s easy to put our needs on hold. I’m not advocating selfishness or neglecting our God-given responsibilities, BUT it’s sooooo important to take care of yourself. If you are rundown and burnt-out, it’s so much harder to foster  a happy attitude at home.
5. Get some exercise. Get moving. Not only is exercise good for your body, it’s also good for your mind. Exercising releases endorphins that help you feel better.
6. Surprise! I love you. Look for special ways to let your family know how you feel about them. Slip a note into a lunchbox or briefcase. Buy/make their favorite snack and leave them a note telling them you’re thinking about them.
7. Watch what you watch. What you watch can make a difference. What you put into your brain makes a difference. Fill your mind with positive messages, tv programs, and movies. If all you see is the negative, then that is what you will tend to focus on.

What are some things that you do with your family to keep everyone happy? I love hearing your ideas!  

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Online Professional Blogging D

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

I have to admit that I am a huge fan of blogging. As the stay-at-home-mom of a toddler (with another on the way), blogging has provided me with an outlet to connect with other moms and people all around the world. Blogging has also allowed me to provide my family with a few extra perks from time to time - everything from gift cards to some fantastic products to review. There's also potential to earn cash through sponsored posts and the selling of advertising space. This has enabled me to provide my family with a little extra spending money, and has also introduced us to some of my absolute, favorite products that I now use on a daily basis.

It takes a bit of time and work to build your audience and contacts in the social media world, but it can be well worth it. Online Universities are picking up on this increasing demand for social media marketers/bloggers. Ashworth College is now offering a Professional Blogging Career Diploma. They offer qualified instructors and resources to help start, manage, and promote your blog, vlog, podcast, or webcast.

When I first started out in blogging, about a year ago, I didn't have a clue about things like SEO or Google PR. I've had to do a lot of research on my own through online forums and fellow bloggers. For those interested in having all of the information all in one place, an online degree like this one from Ashworth College might be useful, especially considering that the instructors all have knowledgeable experience in the field of blogging. Want to take your blog to the next level? Check them out.