Pretend and Play Giveaway from Learning Resources

As many of you may know, I am a HUGE fan of educational toys for kids! I absolutely adore all the great toys from Learning Resources! Learning Resources offers these great Pretend and Play sets that kids really enjoy. Do you ever find your kids mimicking what mom and dad do? These sets are great for pretend play and are an All American Mommy top pick! Learn more about Learning Resources by clicking here.

Pretend & Play® Fishing Set by Learning ResourcesReel in the big one with the Pretend & Play Fishing Set! Little anglers can hook the catch of the day, and an adjustable vest makes play even more realistic. Perfect for outdoor vacations and more. Play a size matching game with worms and fish. Features 6 pages of write & wipe, fishing-themed activities. Plastic pieces include pole with magnetic hook, 3 magnetic fish, 3worms, net and vest (plastic, nylon and canvas). All magnets are embedded for safety, and the plastic tackle box stores all pieces. Ages 3 and up. SRP:$27.99

Pretend & Play® Bakery Set by Learning Resources Stir up the fun! Little chefs fill pies, roll cookies and more. Perfect for involving children in baking for special occasions, holidays and more. This set invites kids to imagine holding a pretend bake-off, making special treats for company, running their own bakery or entering the school bake sale. It offers realistic, hands-on play experience with an egg that cracks open to release the yolk, cookies in four shapes to cut out and more. The Pretend and Play Bakery Set introduces parts of a whole with slice able 3-piece loaf of bread and pie with three 2-piece slices kids can fill with the included fruit.It comes with a total of 31 durable plastic pieces, including favorite baked goods, a measuring cup and spoon to be sure kids have added all of the right ingredients and all the other utensils a baker needs! The rolling pin(the set’s largest piece) measures 8.5” L. Ages 3 and up. SRP: $27.99

Pretend & Play® Birthday Set by Learning Resources Party Time! With the Pretend & Play Birthday Set, kids can design custom invitations for special guests, and decorate the cake and three presents. The five cake pieces feature candles numbered 1-5 to help with counting. Also included is a birthday crown, a pretend camera, birthday cards and more!Ages 3 and up. SRP: $27.99

Giveaway: One lucky winner will receive Pretend & Play Birthday Set! Post a comment telling me how you feel about educational toys for your kids and who you'd like to win this for. Please leave your email address so I can contact you. Ends 5/30/09.

Betty Crocker Mixer Basket Giveaway

Are you ready to get inspired in the Kitchen? Looking for something new to spice up that same old meal? Well look no further than The Mixer, a new online cooking club from Betty Crocker.

When you join The Mixer online (IT'S FREE!) you will be learning the ins and outs of cooking and baking, while interacting with Betty Crocker Kitchens experts LIVE during a class and connecting with an entire community of people just like you. What's great is that you can do it in the comfort of your own kitchen whenever it best fits your schedule.
Each week for six weeks, The Mixer will feature a new class line up complete with recipe demos, tips & techniques, flavor secrets and much more.
Week #1 - Kickin Chicken Recipes and tips for making juicy, mouthwatering chicken Week #2 - Pastabilities Secrets of building flavor that will allow you to create your own signature sauces Week #3 - Greens with Envy Recipes for go-to salads Week #4 - Viva Tortilla Taking taco night to a whole new level Week #5 - Wok it Out Stir-fry techniques and recipes for easy flavorful sauces Week #6 - Small Bites-Big Flavors Dips and appetizers that are easy and flavorful and guiltless desserts Classes are held three times a week. Chat live with the Betty Crocker Kitchens Experts:
Tuesdays 7 p.m. ET Wednesdays 9 p.m. ET Saturdays 4 p.m. ET But don't worry if you miss it, you can always go back to watch the class on demand and get in on the conversation. For complete details on each of the classes simply go to www.bettycrocker.com/themixer and register to become a member.

Giveaway: Enter to win this lovely basket of goodies by posting a comment about the one kitchen gadget that you just can't live without. Please leave your email address so I can contact you. Ends 5/20/09.

BRIDE WARS DVD and Paper Shouts $25 GC Giveaway

Bride Wars starring Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson is being released on April 28, 2009!

Synopsis: Liv (Kate Hudson) and Emma (Anne Hathaway), best friends since childhood, are always there for each other, through good times and bad. They even become engaged to be married within a few hours of one another. Together they plan their respective weddings, each to take place at New York’s ultimate bridal destination, the Plaza Hotel. But a clerical error and subsequent clash in wedding dates pits the two brides – neither of whom will step aside – against each other, in a competition that quickly escalates into all-out war.

A wedding would not be perfect without the most wonderful invitations. Now you can get the most beautiful wedding invitations from Paper Shouts! Check them out for the most fabulous "shouts" on paper! Great for birthdays and holidays too! Best of all, Paper Shouts are printed on recycled paper!

One winner will receive a copy of the BRIDE WARS DVD and a $25 Gift Certificate to Paper Shouts!!
The winner will also be entered into the Grand Prize drawing on the Paper Shouts website. Prizes include movie memorabilia such as the sunglasses worn in the movie by Kate Hudson and a movie one-sheet signed by Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway. The Grand Prize is a great Mexican vacation—6 nights at the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort and airfare for 2 on AirTran airlines.
To enter the giveaway, you will need to post a comment about which characters style you relate more to—Emma’s traditional, romantic style or Liv’s couture, “only the best” approach as well as which Paper Shout card you like best. This giveaway ends May 8, 2009 so hurry and tell all your friends to enter too!

Special promotion from Paper Shouts: Use code AllAm to receive 15% off your Paper Shouts order!

Enter To Win Thousands - Celebrating Earth Day!

Maggie from Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy is hosting a ton of giveaways from April 1st to April 30th. Click on the button above to check it out! She's giving away THOUSANDS in prizes so don't miss out!!

JumpStart

Have you checked out JumpStart online lately? I love the adventure and learning that JumpStart has to offer! I've always been a huge fan of JumpStart products for kids and now they've made this virtual world at http://www.jumpstart.com/ super awesome for kids!






Kids can create avatars called Jumpeez for themselves and explore magical worlds, discovering and unlocking games, videos, and storybooks that teach everything from math to reading. Over the next year, they will be adding more features, portals and learning games to this site.









Trusted by over 20 million parents, JumpStart 3D Virtual World has received several awards including National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, Children’s Technology Review Editor’s Choice, Mom’s Choice Award and many others. JumpStart 3D Virtual World blends learning and entertainment to create the best possible development environment for kids ages 3-8. Included membership to http://www.JumpStart.com com allows parents to customize kids’ gameplay, connect with other grown-ups, and access even more safe and exciting games for kids.





Check it out today!

Mmm...Monday: Cool Carrot (or Sweetie Potato) Muffins

Here's a great recipe from Hip Hip Puree! Check out their other recipes and check back often as they will be adding more. www.hiphippuree.com.

Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
2 pouches (1 cup) Hip Hip Puree!
"Cool Carrot" or "Sweetie Potato"puree
½ cup of skim/low fat milk
¼ cup margarine
1 large egg
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp vanilla
*Hip Option! Add ½ cup of semi-sweet
chocolate chips for a chocolaty treat!

Crumb topping
½ cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp margarine
*Hip Option! Add 3 tbsp finely chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two 12-cup muffin tins or line
with paper liners. In large mixing bowl combine all muffin
ingredients; mix by hand or with electric mixer until batter is smooth.
In small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon; add
margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Fill prepared muffin tins ¾ full. Sprinkle topping over batter. Bake
for 18-20 minutes; cool for 15 minutes.

I Heart POM Wonderful

POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is the only pomegranate juice backed by $25 million in medical research. Actually, we are the only pomegranate juice backed by any medical research at all.There has been a lot of talk lately about the role of pomegranates in promoting heart health, prostate health, and proper erectile function. But while these results are promising, keep in mind that all of the research has been done on POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice. Our juice comes from a unique pomegranate variety (the Wonderful), which is grown in a unique location (California), and which is juiced with proprietary technology (ours!). No other pomegranate juice can claim these distinctions, and no other brand has been clinically tested.So what are the medical results on POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice? Click here to check it out!





POM Juice is 100% authentic and our family loves this stuff! It's a powerhouse of good stuff that's so good for you! Try some today!














POM Velvet Cake

Click here for more recipe ideas from POM








Ingredients:
Cake
juice from 1 large POM Wonderful pomegranate* or 1/2 cup POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
2-1/4 cups

all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup half-and-half
Icing
1 cup arils from

1–2 large POM Wonderful pomegranates
12 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 lb. confectioner’s sugar, sifted
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Cake: 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Prepare fresh pomegranate juice.* 3. Line the bases of two round 9” x 2” baking pans with either parchment or wax paper. Grease paper but do not line or grease sides of pans. 4. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in mixing bowl and set aside. 5. In a separate mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes at medium speed. 6. To the bowl with the butter mixture, add eggs one at a time, beating after each one. Add vanilla extract. 7. Pour half-and-half into a large measuring cup and add in vinegar and pomegranate juice; stir. 8. Add half the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low speed, alternating with the half-and-half and ending with flour. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed. 9. Divide batter into cake pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until cakes test done using a toothpick inserted near the center. The toothpick should be free of wet batter when withdrawn. 10. Allow cakes to rest in cake pan for 15 minutes or until pans are cold to the touch. 11. Invert cakes onto a cooling rack.Icing: 1. Score 1–2 fresh pomegranates and place in a bowl of water. Break open the pomegranates under water to free the arils (seed sacs). The arils will sink to the bottom of the bowl and the membrane will float to the top. Sieve and put the arils in a separate bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the arils from fruit and set aside. (Refrigerate or freeze remaining arils for another use.) 2. Blend cream cheese and butter in mixing bowl. 3. Add vanilla. Beat at medium speed. 4. Add confectioner’s sugar and salt. Beat until fluffy. 5. Place one layer of cake on a cake plate and spread with one third of the icing. 6. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of arils. 7. Cover with second layer of cake and ice with remaining icing. 8. Garnish with remaining arils