Category Archives: Food and Drink

Our Pop Secret Family Movie Night plus enter to win a $50 Visa Gift Card, Pop Secret Popcorn, and Flip mino!

As you may have seen in my recent Whrrl Photo Story, a few days ago I went on a shopping trip to prepare for my family’s Pop! Camera! Action! Movie Night.  If you aren’t familiar with Whrrl, check it out and watch my very first Whrrl Story.

I know what your thinking.. “a Family Movie Night!?  Do you really think we have time for that Alicia”?
That’s what I thought too but after talking to my husband and kids about it and getting them in on the decision making process, everyone became excited about the idea and we had a very successful Family Movie Night last night complete with lots of Pop Secret Movie Theater Butter popcorn and 100 Calorie Pop popcorn.. for me.

Pop Secret - Family Movie Night

I don’t like for my kids to watch a lot of TV and I can’t sit through an entire 30 minute episode of anything so I mostly watch movies and TV episodes on my iPad so I can pause and restart at my will.  Besides having the time, that’s my #1 reason for not having a Family Movie Night.  I simply can’t imagine the thought of sitting through an entire 1.5 – 2 hour movie without stopping it a few times.  But.. I did it last night, thanks to some amazing belly laughs and delicious Pop Secret popcorn!

We had so much fun just sitting on the couch, watching a movie, eating popcorn, and laughing.  I’d recommend you have a Family Movie Night very soon if you haven’t lately.  Family Movie Night is a great way to just sit and chill with your kids. My favorite part of Family Movie Night was hearing the kids laugh.. like real belly laughs.. in unison.  I can’t help but crack up when the kids belly laugh.. you know?

Thanks to Mom Spark Media and Pop Secret for providing with such a great idea and a very fun Family Movie Night!

Here’s a little skit the kids did, thanks to Pop Secret and Mom Spark Media for the great props (boa, trophy, and clapper board).

Win a $50 Visa Gift Card, Pop Secret Popcorn, and a Flip mino!

Pop Secret Moms giveaway

This contest has ended.  Congratulations Tabathia!

To enter:

  • Visit Pop Secret and enter their sweepstakes (opens a new browser window so you don’t loose this page) before midnight, Feb 18th.
  • Then come back and mention in comments below, that you entered.
  • A random winner will be selected and notified via email.  If the winner doesn’t respond within 24 hours an alternate winner will be chosen.

To earn extra entries, you may do as many of the following as you’d like. Each action counts as an extra entry but you must leave a separate comment letting us know each action that you took.

  • Follow The Mommy Insider on Twitter.
  • Subscribe to our RSS feed and/or email newsletter.
  • Tweet this giveaway (once daily). Enter to win Pop Secret Popcorn, a $50 VISA card, and a Flip mino courtesy of @mommyinsider & Pop Secret! #PopCameraAction
  • “Like” The Mommy Insider page on Facebook.
  • Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back here and to Pop Secret.

Pop Secret Moms - Family Movie NightDisclosure: I am a Pop Secret Mom sponsored blogger, courtesy of Mom Spark Media.  Thoughts expressed in this post are my own.  This post was written for Mom Spark MediaPop Secret who provided select items used in our Family Movie Night and Awards Ceremony Event and is providing the winner with the giveaway prize.

Alicia Hagan, Mom Blog editor

P.S. Enter to win a HeartWings Valentine’s Pillow from TheMommyInsider here!

My Rice Krispies Treats™ Holiday Table Show-Stopper and a $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Earlier this month Rice Krispies and The Motherhood contacted me about participating in another Rice Krispie Treat Recipe Box Challenge with the goal of creating a Rice Krispies Treats™ Holiday Table Show-Stopper.  (See my winning recipe from the July 4th Rice Krispies Treats Recipe Box Challenge here.) I am very impressed with the other entries that I’ve seen which you can view here.  You will find a complete list of all 30 participating bloggers at the bottom of this post.  Judges will choose and announce the winner of this Rice Krispies Treats Recipe Box Challenge December 21st, so check back here to find out who won!

Below is a photograph of all of the ingredients and supplies I bought for my Rice Krispies Treats recipe, not knowing what I was going to make at the time.  The funny thing is.. my final Rice Krispies Treats™ Holiday Table Show-Stopper recipe doesn’t include ANY of the ingredients in the photograph below, except Rice Krispies and marshmallows… oh, and icing.

Rice Krispies Treats - The Motherhood Blogger Challenge

So, here it is..
my Rice Krispies Treats™ Holiday Table Show-Stopper

* Mismatched Rice Krispies Treats Gingerbread Men *

Rice Krispies Treats Holiday Table Show Stopper recipe challenge

Rice Krispies Treats - Mis-Matched Gingerbread Boys and Girls

Not only are these little Mismatched Rice Krispies Treats Gingerbread Men adorable (I think), but they are also a super fun activity for kids!  Give your kids a bottom and top half and some colored icing and let them have at it!  Like to party? Invite a few friends over and have a Mismatched Rice Krispies Treats Gingerbread Men decorating (and eating) party!  One complete Gingerbread Man equals one regular Rice Krispies Treats serving.

Recipe Ingredients and supplies:

  • 6 cups Rice Krispies
  • About 40 large marshmallows
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon  ginger – optional
  • 1 teaspoon  cinnamon – optional
  • Icing – various colors
  • Gingerbread Men cookie cutters

Instructions:

  • Melt 3 tablespoons butter in large pan over medium-low heat
  • Add 4 cups miniature marshmallows to melted butter and stir until completely smooth – on medium-low heat
  • Optional – stir ginger and cinnamon in for ‘gingerbread’ flavor
  • Remove from heat
  • Stir in 6 cups of Rice Krispies
  • Transfer Rice Krispies Treats mix onto clean counter top or a shallow pan and flatten to about 1 inch thick
  • Use gingerbread man cookie cutter (use cooking spray to ensure easy removal from cookie cutter) to cut gingerbread shapes and transfer individual gingerbread men to wax paper
  • Cut gingerbread men in half
  • Decorate the halves as you like and enjoy the yumminess!

$100 VISA GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY courtesy of Rice Krispies

What do you think of my Mismatched Rice Krispies Treats Gingerbread Men?  Share a comment below and follow the rules below to enter to win a $100 Visa Gift Card courtesy of Rice Krispies!

1. Leave a comment telling me what you think of my Mismatched Rice Krispies Treats Gingerbread Men and/or what your favorite Rice Krispies Treats recipe is.

2. Contest runs from December 15th through December 22nd at 11:59am.

3. You may only enter the contest once.

4. Winner will be selected randomly December 22d and will be notified via email.

5. Winner has 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.

The Motherhood Holiday Rice Krispies Treats Exchange Blogger Giveaway Rules:

Abbreviated Rules. No Purchase Necessary. Begins no earlier than 12:00:00 AM (ET) on 11/29/10 and ends no later than 11:59:59 PM (ET) on 12/21/10. For complete Official Rules, go to http://web.mediacdt.com/docs/motherhoodholiday

Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Subject to complete Official Rules. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: TheMotherhood; www.TheMotherhood.com

Disclosure: I am working with Rice Krispies and TheMotherhood.com on this project and have received a stipend and supplies to participate.

Here is a full list of the bloggers who are participating in this Rice Krispies Treats Recipe Box Challenge:

Each of these wonderful bloggers is hosting a giveaway, so be sure to visit each of these terrific blogs and post a comment on their creations for a chance to win a $100 pre-loaded debit card!

New exclusive coupon code: Ethnic Foods Co.

Ethnic Foods Co. offers a variety of gluten-free and organic ethnic food products and gifts. Visit Ethnic Foods Co. for all of your kitchen needs!

Ethnic Foods Co. coupon code

Offer: $6 to spend any way you like at our online store. New customers only!

Use coupon code: 12/31/2010

Expires: INSIDER

Some brands offered: Parampara, Ajika, Patak’s, MTR, Liijat

Shop now: Ethnic Foods Co. website

Coupon Code: 10% off Candy Direct

Candy Direct coupon code

Candy DirectCandy Direct is your Candy Kingdom. Browse online and ship to your door.

Discount offer: 10% off Entire store Until the end of 2010

Use code: insider10

Expiration date: 12/31/2010

Some brands they sell: Hershey’s, Albanese, Wrigley, Dryden & Palmer, Taffy Town

Website: Candy Direct

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Wendy’s new Pick 2 for $4.99 menu and a gift card giveaway!

I was invited, along with some great local bloggers here in Atlanta, to attend a ‘Bloggers and Friends Meet & Greet’ at Wendy’s to try out their new Pick 2 for $4.99 menu.  Talk about a good time!  Besides getting to see Pierra from JollyMom.com and Kia Morgan Smith (Madelyn’s favorite children’s book author), the kids and I enjoyed some great food.

Wendy's Pick 2 for $4.99 Bloggers Meet and Greet

To me Wendy’s new Pick 2 for $4.00 menu is that it is all about portion sizes and healthier selections.  The base menu item is a salad of which there are 4 to choose from including a Spicy Chicken Caesar Salad.. yum.  Then you can add on a drink, a baked potato, a hamburger, or Chicken Go Wrap to complete your meal.  The Pick 2 menu offers 28 total combinations of menu items, and 18 of those combinations are 600 calories or less! All of the combinations combine fruits, vegetables, nuts, dairy and proteins. Take a look at the  Pick 2 for $4.99 menu on the Wendy’s website here.

Wendy's Pick 2 for $4.99 menu

GIVEAWAY!

We are giving a lucky reader a $7 Wendy’s gift card!  To enter leave a comment below telling me why you want to win a $7 Wendy’s gift card.   Earn 2 extra entries just for following @mommyinsider on Twitter AND Tweeting “I entered to win a Wendy’s gift card on TheMommyInsider.com”.  – That’s it!  Entries accepted through October 31st.

Enjoy!