Technology Tips

My favorite things to purchase at Staples are the fun little gifts - perfect for stocking stuffers. I love buying beautiful journals and fun colored pens, along with post it notes of all shapes, colors and sizes. Some other items that are fun for kids are the calculators that clip onto a back pack or keychain, and the fun paper clips and thumb tacks. There are so many fun small items to choose from, you can't go wrong!

In addition to all these fun items, they have more electronic gifts than I can even think of like laptops, printers, cam corders, digital cameras, memory cards, USB cards and more.

Here are most helpful tips for holiday tech shopping:

1. Check for the best prices. It may be easiest to go to one store and buy everything you want for the holidays, but it may not be best for your wallet. I love the site froogle.com where you can type in any item and it will list out the price of the item and where to find it. You can search by price. It's wonderful!

2. Another site I live by is retailmenot.com. On this site other shoppers can list coupon codes, printable coupons, freebies and great deals. I use this at least once a month. My favorite coupon codes from this site are for Victoria Secret, Charlotte Russe and Wet Seal, but there are so many more sites on here!

3. Rebates - check for mail in or instant rebates for technology items. So many electronics offer rebates which make the prices more affordable. Take the time to look up the flyers for each store, and compare rebates when considering the final prices.

4. Read Reviews - If an item has 25 bad reviews and 1 good review, then it probably is not the best choice. I find reviews very helpful. They tell you if a product is reliable or a piece of junk and will break right away.

5. Read the fine print - check what the item is compatible with, the warrenty, the return policy. These are all very important when buying technology.

On my holiday list are the following items that can all be found at Staples - mini laptop/netbook, camcorder, and a new digital camera. We have a digital camera that is wonderful for outdoor photos, but awful for low light locations. It would be so nice to have a camera that took decent photos indoors, so we could capture our date nights, and weddings, as well as holiday parties. Maybe someday Santa will bring them to our house, if not this year. :)

Happy Holidays!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here - http://staplesholiday.twittermoms.com/about

Staples Holiday GuideHoliday Tech Gifts

10 TIPS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER

Life can be so much easier than it is. How? There are many things that can be done to simplify your life. I know this may sound like an inspirational speech in the making, but it's true. Life is sometimes harder than it has to be.

Tip 1: Cleaning the toilet a pain? Use 1 can of coke, pour around the bowl and leave overnight. Flush in the morning and job done! If only all cleaning tasks were this easy!

Tip 2: I originally found this tip online, but I use it all the time, as I love to bake for my friends. How to Expand Frosting. . . When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving

Tip 3: I also found this one online about a month ago, but it's so helpful! Unsticky Measuring Cups . . . Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don’t dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out.

Tip 4: For making pie crusts this holiday season, it's best to use cold butter for making the crust. Don't melt the butter or "soften" it. It's best when the butter is cut into cubes and kneeded in. The layers of butter between the dough make for a very flaky pie crust. Try it!

Tip 5: If you are making deviled eggs or boiled eggs, here is my tip. As soon as you are done boiling the eggs, rinse them in cool water. This prevents the yokes from turning green around the edges as they cool, and you can also work with them sooner!

Tip 6: I found this product online and think it's wonderful, it's the OK to Wake clock. My coworkers keep complaining about how their kids think as soon as the sun's up that it's time toget up, so they make a product called the "ok to wake" clock that tells kids when they can get up, even if it's already light outside.

Tip 7: Thanksgiving is just around the corner . . . we all love turkey, but what do you do with the leftovers. Every year my family makes turkey noodle soup. You boil the turkey carcas, and that makes a tasty broth, then add in some carrots, noodles, celery and corn and you have soup (of course, take the carcas out before you eat or serve the soup)

Tip 8: For those of you with kittens/cats. . . here's a tip to keep them from going after toes or hands. When they are little provide them with plenty of toys, but NEVER use your hands or feet to play with them. If you use the toys, it teaches them that toys are ok to chase. By using your hands/feet it teaches them that it's ok to chase and attack body parts, so start with toys when they're young. . . not human hands/feet.

Tip 9: Potty Training Tip - if you have a son and want to teach him to "aim," use cheerios. Put a few in the toilet bowl, and tell him to aim for the cheerios. It's great for learning, but can also be a game . . .win win!

Tip 10: For holiday shopping, here are some great money saving sites:
retailmenot.com
couponcabin.com
ebates.com

Try out some of these tips, for a less stressful and easier life. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my tips, or if you have any to add.

Thanks and Happy Holidays! :)

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Oral-B blogging contest, making me eligible to get full-sized Oral-B Glide products and a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Ragu

To help make sure your kids get the veggies they need (and the meals they love) Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce now has 2 servings of veggies in every half cup! Available soon in major retailers nationwide, the healthy, great tasting Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional pasta sauce that is already a kitchen staple has a new, naturally thicker recipe.

Healthy, delicious and now with a naturally thicker taste the whole family will love, Ragú® Old World Style® Traditional Sauce is a perfect component to pulling together quick and tasty meals during this busy time. And Ragú® wants you to be among the first to try out their great new recipe! To be one of the first to taste Ragú® with 2 servings of veggies in every half-cup visit them on facebook.com/ragusauce for more details.

Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a Ragú® prize package in exchange for this post. No monetary exchange took place

sharing 10 ways of making your favorite foods healthier

Does anyone else hate trying to be healthy, but knowing it's best? Does anyone else out there prefer a good cookie to an apple? If so, then you may be interested in this post:

Here are my 10 ways of making your favorite foods healthier:

1. If you love cake, like I do, then one way to make it healthier is to use fruit preserves as filling instead of icing. I like using sugar-free personally, and it keeps the center of the cake very moist, which is always great.

2. To make the cake even healthier, use orange zest, or top it with sliced fruit instead of chocolate. Or simply use powdered sugar and sliced fruit for a beautiful look and a great taste!

3. For more baking tips, try using applesauce or olive oil instead of vegetable oil. It's healthier, and it makes the flavor richer (I would use applesauce for yellow or spice cakes, and EVOO for chocolate cakes). The outcome is fantastic!



4. Instead of making muffins that are full or chocolate and cream, try using nutella or real fruits like sliced strawberries, lemon zest, or apple. I try to switch things up in my recipes, and cut out the chocolate and add in fruit. It's not quite the same, but they still taste great.

5. In staying with my cooking/baking theme, try using more garlic in recipes, especially pasta. Garlic has many health benefits, so it's great to add to meals. We like to add garlic to our Italian dishes, and also to our seafood. Salmon with garlic oil is a tasty combination.

6. When making pasta, try switching to whole wheat, or just wheat pasta. It's a great alternative, and has a great robust flavor.

7. If you like seafood, then try eating more fish with healthy oils like salmon and tuna. These are "fatty" fish, but it's good fat. It sounds gross, but these are the tastiest and healthiest foods from the sea, full of omega-3 fatty acids.

8. Switch from ice berg lettuce to romaine or spinach lettuce. The darker the lettuce the more health benefits it has. If your kids won't eat salads, try to top it with fruits like strawberries, mandarin oranges, apples, nuts, raisens or craisens. With more to look at, they may consider trying it!

9. Use blueberries. Blueberries are one of the superfoods in today's society. Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, these are also high in potassium and vitamin C. I've heard they can help lower chances for heart disease, which I think is great! Try adding them into muffins or pancakes, or make a blueberry smoothie for breakfast!

10. Add some dark chocolate to your diet! New research has shown that dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and can lower blood pressure, so I say bring on the chocolate :)

I think the last tip is my favorite, as it gives me permission to continue eating chocolate, in moderation of course. I think these are som great ways to make unhealthy foods a bit healthier, or to eat healthier in general. I hope you enjoyed them.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and WeightWatchers SmartOnes blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Flavorful Low-sodium Family Meals

There are many ways to jazz up your meals without using a lot of salt. Whether you use tricks like "oven frying" instead of deep frying, sauteeing in low-sodium chicken broth instead of oil, or incorporating fun herbs and spices, like Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning blends into your dishes for extra flavor, we want to hear how you make your family meals flavorful and appealing!

When we cook we use low fat milk, and low sodium chicken and beef broth. It is so important to keep your sodium levels down. It makes you feel better and your body will appreciate the thought you put into your diet and your menu selections. Always cut the salt in half, or use unsalted butter on veggies and in dishes. It makes a world of difference!

Using Mrs Dash salt-free seasoning blend is a great idea to add flavor to a meal without the added sodium. Many people in my family have to watch their sodium intake, so this is so helpful!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mrs. Dash and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Flavorful, Family Meal Ideas




More Mrs. Dash Recipes

Apple Turkey Stuffing Recipe:
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. (45mL) Mrs. Dash® Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend
1/2 cup (120mL) chopped hazelnuts
2 Tbsp. (30mL) butter
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 1/2 apples, ideally Granny Smith or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored and diced into 1/4 inch (6cm) cubes
1/4 cup (60mL) apple juice
1 egg
4 cups (960mL) day-old country-style bread, cut into 1/2 inch (1.25mL) cubes, slighted dried
1/3 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp (2.5mL) dried sage
1 cup (240mL) parsley, stems removed, chopped coarsely
1 cup (240mL) chicken stock

Directions:
In a pre-heated 325°F oven, toast hazelnuts on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes. Let cool and reserve.
Melt butter in a large sauté pan over medium high heat and sauté onions, celery and apples for approximately 10 minutes, or until they begin to brown.
Remove pan from the heat and stir in apple juice, using the liquid to loosen up any brown bits from the pan.
In a large bowl, beat egg. Add bread, Mrs. Dash® Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend, cinnamon, sage, parsley, chicken stock, hazelnuts and the sauteed onions, celery and apples. Toss thoroughly.
Place stuffing in the turkey cavity (but do not over-stuff) and cook with bird. Bake any leftover stuffing in a shallow baking dish at 350°F for approximately 30 minutes, or until a crisp crust has formed on top (all of the stuffing can be cooked in a large baking dish if desired).

5 things

Share five simple things you can do for your child to help keep their smiles healthy and bright:

1. Brush your teeth
2. Brush your tongue
3. floss
4. chew sugar free gum
5. Avoid sweets

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Trident blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Learn More on Facebook

Trident Gum

Nanny McPhee Contest

Five Lessons Every Kid Should Learn:

1. To exercise, prevent poor health later

2. To brush their teeth twice a day

3. To drink plenty of water

4. To share with their friends and school mates

5. To be kind to others

Nanny McPhee Returns (the movie) and TwitterMoms are joining forces to present you with a fun blogging program! Share Five Lessons Every Kid Should Learn, and the first 50 qualified participants will get a $50 Fandango gift card! Do you teach your kids not to talk to strangers? Do they know when to say please and thank you and to respect their elders? Did you teach your kids to look both ways before crossing the street? We can’t wait to read all of your important lessons for kids!

Nanny McPhee Returns Trailer





Nanny McPhee Returns on Facebook I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Nanny McPhee Returns blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Back To School With Staples

Widget for Staples:

Back-to-School Savings

Staples Back-to-School

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Staples makes going back-to-school easy for 2010:

Staples provides significant savings, a wide selection of quality products, and a one-stop shop and stress-free shopping experience.

Staples is in-stock throughout the entire season and into the start of the school year.

Staples kicks off the back-to-school season to provide customers with an official start date for back-to-school shopping and a clear roadmap for value throughout the season.

Staples is the expert on back-to-school, with more than 20 years experience.

Staples offers more ways to save from hot buys like penny and dollar deals to savings on technology to reduced low prices on hundreds of core items.

More info: http://www.staples.com
Join Staples on Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/staples
Follow Staples on Twitter: http://twitter.com/staplestweets

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TEN TIPS:

1. Coupons

2. Sales

3. Bulk purchases

4. Grow your own herbs

5. Grow your own veggies

6. Use leftover to make new meals

7. Don't waste

8. BOGO Deals

9. Borrow school supplies

10. Recycle

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Staples blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Tips for a Safe School Year

Ten Tips for Ensuring a Healthy, Safe and Successful School Year:

1. Make Friends
2. Be nice to everyone
3. Forgive Others
4. Don't fight - turn the other cheek
5. Think of others before yourself
6. Be patient
7. Keep your word
8. Always put family first
9. Take care of your body - sleep and nutrition
10. Keep a first aid kit on hand for boo boos

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Safe, Healthy, Eco-friendly Eyewear









Airwear Back-to-school Eyewear

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about.

Our financial life is "better than ever"

LIVE: Our financial life is "better than ever." We recently went through a financial class that helped us to save up an emergency fund, pay off all of our debts other than our mortgage, save for retirement, and put extra payments on our mortgage. Since we went through this program we don't have to worry about money, and we have a written budget each month. It's such a nice feeling, and it's definitely better than ever!

Dove® gofresh™ is also sponsoring a Facebook photo contest that you can share with your readers. Encourage your blog readers and followers to share their photos about what's "better than ever" on the Facebook contest page for a chance to win a spa weekend getaway in Sedona, AZ, and thousands of dollars worth of great prize packages from Dove® gofresh™!




Check out Dove^® gofresh™ with NutriumMoisture™








Dove^® Better Than Ever Facebook Contest

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Dove® gofresh™ blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (include this link to the discussion page: http://www.twittermoms.com/forum/topics/celebrate-the-things-in-your)

Celebrate Summer with Solo! Fun Photo Contest

Our friends at Solo are back this summer with their second annual Solo Online Photo Contest! And like last year, they are unveiling new must-have product just in time for summer barbecues. Solo Squared™ plates and bowls are the perfect complement to their popular Squared cup. These durable, single-use cups, plates and bowls cut down on clean-up time, which means more time for summer fun!

Speaking of fun, how does winning great prizes sound? The Solo Cup Company has launched their second annual online photo contest with a grand prize of $5,000 for the best photo featuring Solo products. You'll be able to enter your favorite photos at http://www.solocups4ever.com/ until August 6th. In addition to the grand prize, two $1,000 runner-up prizes will be awarded at the end of the contest. By entering, you'll also have the chance to win daily and weekly prizes of gift certificates and Solo products- a great way to extend the fun of summer well into the fall!

Must Have's for A Weekend Getaway

#1 - blazer

#2 - Gold/silver shoes
#3 - Jeans or Jeggings

#4 - Oversized shirt or long shirt

#5 - Wide Belt (preferable with sparkle detail or flare)

Gap Twitter Discount

Exclusive Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store Savings

More About Banana Republic Factory Store
Banana Republic Factory Store offers Banana Republic Style at brilliant prices.
Gap Outlet Offerings
Gap Outlet is offering a doorbuster sale with up to 40% off all adult items and 30% off all kids items from May 25-31, 2010! THEN, Gap Outlet extends the sale with up to 50% off select styles! Also, Gap Outlet is offering an exclusive coupon code to the TwitterMoms community for an additional 15% discount on all purchases, with a minimum spend of $75. This exclusive additional discount is available to all TwitterMoms friends and family from May 25 - June 7, 2010!
Banana Republic Factory Store Offerings
Banana Republic Factory Store is offering 40% off the ENTIRE STORE from Wednesday 5/26/10 – Monday 5/31/10 ONLY! In addition, Banana Republic Factory Store is offering an exclusive coupon code to the TwitterMoms community for an additional 15% discount on all purchases, with a minimum spend of $75. This exclusive additional discount is available to all TwitterMoms friends and family from May 25 through June 7, 2010, so hurry to your closest location today.
Get your coupons today at http://gap.twittermoms.com/I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Gap Outlet blogging program to be eligible to win a $20 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

the "kids"

Cute new picture of our kittens

Kid Friendly Vacation Ideas

I'm new to Twittermoms but it looks like fun participating in the challenges and contests. For my first Twittermom's challenge, I'm going to blog about five fun family activities your kids will love. If you want to be a part of it, you can too here.

The beach is always fun for everyone. We used to go every summer!

Camping is an inexpensive adventurous vacation. I've never really "roughed" it, but it looks like fun.

I always loved playing mini golf, bowling, or going to outdoor concerts. My sister and I would dance around on the grass while the music played!

Something that is fun no matter what your age is - water parks or swimming pools! There is no end to the fun you can have when water or rides are involved.

All good vacations need one thing - GREAT FOOD!

Fun Family Vacation Activities

Visit Williamsburg

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Williamsburg Tourism and TwitterMoms blogging program for a chance to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here

win $100

Southern Hospitality’s daily morning cup of coffee must have flavor and LOTS of sweet! See which Coffee-mate flavors are her top picks!

Domestic Fashionista adds flavor to her life by adding details to every aspect of her world. A new chandelier, a new recipe, or a new outfit all gives her that extra oomph in her day!

Since Space Suitcase made the resolution to take one photo daily, she has been able “to look at everyday things in a new way through the lens. You never know what you're going to see!” Check out how dabbling into various craft projects adds even more flavor in her life.

After backpacking across Europe for six months and bungee jumping in Zambia, Cookin Canuck is still able to keep her life flavorful through food. As her children grow older, she’s hoping that she’s able to instill in them a sense of self-confidence and adventure too.

Whatever mood Grandma’s Briefs is in or whatever mood she wants to be in, there's a musical artist with just the right flavor to keep her right where she wants to be. Read more to see which artists put her in a sweet, bitter, or umami mood!

Steece’s Pieces changes her hairstyle when she wants to bring a new flavor to her life. She’s experimented with curls, spikes, and whole color changes, to even PINK highlights — click here to see the photos!

The Wilder Coast is able to send a little flavorful cheer to her friends and family despite her pitiful monthly bank statement—and it only costs 42 cents!

The public library was able to keep Raising Colorado’s childhood extremely adventurous and flavorful! Read on to see how she’s ensuring her children are able to “have a little accident with a peach tree!”

“After I turned 29, I created a list of 30 Things I hoped to do before I turned 30.” Find out what Slice of Pink has already crossed off to add flavor to her life!

Life In Chicago knows it’s her friends that bring “FLAVOR to my life, like nothing else does… They influence me, inspire me, edit me, and credit me. They make me who I am!”

Our House's Progress

About a year ago my husband and I purchased our first home, and it was a disaster, but we are happy to report that it's coming along - slowly, but still - we are making progress. Here are some photos of the before and after:

Our kids

I wanted to introduce our kids to my blog followers....aren't they cute?

Painting

I don't know about you, but painting a room is a royal pain.

Have you ever started the process thinking you had everything you needed, only to realize you would be making 3 more trips to Home Depot before the project is over?

We started off by steaming the wallpaper off the walls, then we scraped the glue off, and we thought we'd be ready to paint after that, but we were wrong.

We then had to sand down the walls, fill in the holes, sand down the filling, and respackle yet again. After that was over we had to wipe down the walls to remove any dust AND THEN we were ready to paint, but not paint - PRIME.

Our home was completely covered in wall paper, so this was a very long process, and I wanted to share my painting experience.

Happy Painting! :-P

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Today is my mother's 56th birthday, and honestly she doesn't look a day over 42.

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to my mom for all the days she stayed home from work to take care of me when I was sick, for helping me with my wedding plans and keeping me from getting the jitters, for always supporting and encouraging me in what I wanted to do in life. She is the best, and I couldn't have asked for a better mom!

Anniversary!!!

April will mark my 2 year wedding anniversary with my husband. People always say that grass is greener on the other side. When you're single, you want to be married, and when you're married you want to be single, but I think there are always going to be aspects of someone else's life that seem more glamourous or more interesting than yours, but it doesn't mean the situation is better than yours. I love being married, but would I love an evening to myself every once in awhile, sure I would, but I wouldn't trade being married for anything in the world. I love my husband dearly, and we even each other out in so many ways. He's the stressed one, and I'm the one who calms him down. I'm the procrastinator, and he is the OCD, get-everything-done-yesterday type of guy . . . so when you put the two of us together we somehow manage to meet in the middle :)

WIN!!!

For a chance to win the $300 grand prize, share tricks to help lighten your load and get laundry done faster. Place your comment in the section below to enter.

Suz from The Life Of Suz, mother of 2 year old quadruplets, put OxiClean to the ultimate challenge. Take a look at the results!

Jenny On The Spot loved how the Max Force Gel Stick easily conquered the chocolate pudding stain that had been sitting on her kid’s white shirt for four days!

Carrie from, Growing a Baby, is a laundry expert with two cute, but messy eaters. She loves the gel stick and says "it’s been great to be able to just dab some gel on the clothing item and leave it until later."

Life With the Boys said "I used the power pack in my whites, colors, and a load of towels. Everything came out looking pretty ship-shape."

"In our family, laundry is a HUGE deal. By this I mean, with 9 of us in the family we always have HUGE amounts of laundry to do. Add in the fact that 7 of us are boys… well I think you get the idea." -Said Mama Fasha

"When one lives in a home with seven kids (COUNT THEM: SEVEN) and a minor petting zoo, one has some serious laundry considerations." - Said Herding Squirrels. See how Oxiclean worked for her.

Xiaolin Mama said "This weekend after 3 basketball games, 1 soccer try-out, dance class and a sleep over, I was left with some stanky laundry!" See if OxiClean worked for her.

Vacation Ideas

We've been on a few weekend getaways since we've been married, so I wanted to post them in case any of you are looking for getaway ideas. The first two are very family friendly, and the third was a couple's resort in the pocono's but the area would still be fun for families:

Cape May NJ



















Annapolis, MD



















Pocono's PA

Strawberry Muffins

LOVE this muffin recipe: Try it for yourself!

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup plain Stonyfield Farm Yogurt
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped strawberries, fresh or frozen
½ cup brown sugar (optional)



Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 12 muffin tin or line it with paper baking cups. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar and baking soda. In another bowl, stir together eggs, yogurt, melted butter and vanilla until blended. Toss the strawberries with the flour mixture.
Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until the flour is just moistened. The batter will be lumpy. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.

Yields
12 muffins

Sweet Potato Orange Cups Recipe

Don't these look/sound delicious?

TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min.

Ingredients:

3 large sweet potatoes (2 to 2-1/2 pounds), peeled and cubed
1 can (6 ounces) orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup half-and-half cream
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup miniature marshmallows
1/4 cup chopped pecans
4 large oranges, halved
32 additional miniature marshmallows



Directions:

Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 25-30 minutes or just until tender. Drain. In a large mixing bowl, beat the sweet potatoes, concentrate, sugar, cream and butter on low speed until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup marshmallows and pecans; set aside. Remove pulp from oranges, leaving a shell. (Discard pulp or save for another use.) Spoon sweet potato mixture into shells. Place four marshmallows on top of each. Place in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 8 servings.

9 chances to win a visa gift card

Swistle thought “It didn't taste like ‘diet pizza,’ it tasted like really good thin-crust pizza!” Find out which flavor was her favorite.
Fluid Pudding knows “you will not be disappointed” when you purchase DiGiorno 200 Calories Portions…especially since they remind Angela of her favorite thin-crust pizzas!
Busy Mom’s whole family LOVED them! This is a great “portion-controlled, convenient, and tasty pizza option” if you’re looking for “quick, healthy food!”
“Good pizza without the guilt? Sign me up!” Tia from Clever Girl Goes Blog loved how the 200 Calorie Portions were “good sized and tasted like REAL pizza, not some ridiculous diet food.”
Ali from Through the Looking Glass says the pizzas are perfect for lunch or a quick dinner. “It gives you that restaurant pizza taste without all of the calories!”
If it's not cheat day yet and you are looking for a single serving of a really satisfying pizza, Cheat Day Café would highly recommend the DiGiorno 200 Calorie Pizzas found in the freezer section of your grocery store.
“At 200 calories a pop, it is a great way to satisfy. No guilt, no bloat. Just yummy pizza!” Kari from Karianna Spectrum will be stocking the 200 Calorie Portions in her freezer!
FiddleDeeDee’s daughter has dubbed the DiGiorno 200 Calorie Portions as “the best pizza ever!” See which flavor is DeeDee’s favorite!
The “entire line up of DiGiorno 200 calorie pizzas has been added to the permanent shopping list” at Carmen’s house. Now Mom to the Screaming Masses can finally include pizza in her diet again!

win a visa gift card!!!

NEW~ Fluid Pudding was dazzled by the high tech features, especially the Blind Spot Information System. Get a closer look at her MKT.

Gen, from Quadville, felt very stylish and enjoyed test driving the MKT. “The kids cried when it was time to say goodbye.” Read about the features she loved.

Jenny, from Three Kid Circus, said "We had an absolute blast discovering all the super-fun bells and whistles on the MKT - and this experience has opened up a whole new world of must-haves for our future next car."

“I got admiring stares from people at stop lights and a curious glance from a TV star who lives across the street.” Said Sweatpantsmoms. See what else she loved about the MKT.

Whitney, of Rookie Moms, took her MKT on a road trip to Disneyland. She loved all the space it had for luggage. She even gave a recommendation about the MKT to an interested passerby along the way. Read more.