12/27/12

Better Baking with Avocados from Mexico

This post brought to you by Avocados from Mexico. All opinions are 100% mine.
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Have you ever used Avocados from Mexico in your baking? They make great foods taste even better! For baked foods, just replace butter or oil with an equal amount of pureed avocados and you'll have richer, moister, healthier treats. It's that simple! Better baking is a piece of cake with Avocados from Mexico!
I tried using avocados in my brownies instead of the butter the recipe called for and they came out simply perfect. The brownie recipe was one of those simple mixes you buy in the grocery store, add one egg, one cup of milk, and one teaspooon of butter, stir and bake for 30 minutes. These brownies turned out better than any other brownies I've ever made and my family finished the entire pan of brownies in one evening. They didn't even know I changed the recipe but they sure raved about how delicious they were!
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Right now, you can also go enter the Avocados from Mexico's Better Baking Sweepstakes on their Facebook page and you could win one of over five hundred awesome prizes. The grand prize is a $2,500 iCard Gift Card, plus there are ten second prizes of a $100 iCard Gift Card. There are also five hundred third prizes of a $25 iCard Gift Card to be given away. The sweepstakes run until December 31, 2012, so hurry over there and get yourself entered to win. I sure hope to win the grand prize, don't you?

12/26/12

Print this Jose' Ole' $2 Coupon to donate $2 to Children's Miracle Network

offer expired

Winners List Updated


$50 Famous Footwear Gift Card - Nancy Weitzel

Karina Dress - Christy Ehrlich

$20 iTunes Gift Card - Jessie C. (tcarolinep@...)

Enter more giveaways HERE!

Seven Layer Cookies Recipe

Recipe for Seven Layer Cookies
 You need one stick of butter, a package of graham crackers, a package of chocolate chips, a package of butterscotch chips, a package of coconut flakes, a package of pecan pieces, and a can of sweetened condensed milk. You also need a 9x13 baking pan.
Put the stick of butter in the pan. Turn on oven to 350F and place pan in oven to melt butter.
Open one package of the graham crackers and dump into zipper type plastic bag, zip closed.
Using a rolling pin or the can of sweetened condensed milk, crush the graham crackers by rolling over the bag gently.
By the time you have a bag of nice little crumbs, your butter will be melted.
Pull the pan from the oven and move it around so the butter coats the bottom of the pan.
Pour the graham cracker crumbs evenly across the melted butter in the pan.
Using your hands, press the crumbs into the butter to make the crust. (Pan will be hot.)
Evenly pour semi-sweet chocolate chips on graham cracker crust.
Spread chocolate chips to a single layer, making sure to reach edges of pan.
Then evenly pour the Butterscotch chips on top of the chocolate chips.
Spread out the Butterscotch chips evenly, making sure to reach the edge of the pan.
Before opening the coconut flakes, loosen it up well, then layer on top of the chips.
Break up any coconut flakes with your fingers and spread to the edges of the pan.
The next layer is the pecan pieces.
Once again, spread them evenly across the pan.
Using a triangle can opener, poke a small hole on the top of the sweetened condensed milk and a larger hole across from it.
Drizzle the entire can of sweetened condensed milk over the entire pan of layered ingredients.
Make sure the sweetened condensed milk covers the top layer as much as possible and be sure to drizzle it against the edges of the pan.
Your oven is still heated to 350F degrees, so pop the pan in there for 30 minutes.
Remove the pan after 30 minutes and let cool on a wire cookie rack.
After cooling 15 minutes, take a knife edge or metal spatula and loosen all four sides from the edge of the pan. Then allow to cool completely.
When the pan is completely cooled, cut into cookie bars about one inch each. Enjoy!
This recipe was passed down to me by my mom.
I make them every Christmas and they are fabulous!

New Learning Resources All About Me Family Counters

We are excited to introduce you to the new Learning Resources All About Me Family Counters! 
Coming soon in 2013! 
Can you guess where we are or what we're doing?












As soon as these great new toys are released in 2013, there will also be a fabulous contest featuring Family Counters and you could win great prizes! Be sure to follow Learning Resources so you can be first to hear all the great news!


Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for this post.

New Year's Eve Security

Having a New Year's Eve party? Here are 13 reasons why you should get security guards to make sure you, your guests and your stuff all get to see 2013. guardNOW can help you will all your security needs!

1. Your guests will be drinking - Security guards will make sure no one gets out of hand.

2. Stop any fights or conflicts before they escalate - Security guards will step in immediately.

3. Protect valuables from theft - Security guards will keep an eye on your belongings.

4. Control the door - Security guards won't let in anyone not on the list.

5. Assist hired staff - Security guards protect expensive DJ equipment or help move large items.

6. Help guests with parking - Security guards will help keep the parking area safe before, during and after the party.

7. Find rides for drunk guests at end of the night - Security guards can determine who is okay to drive and help call taxis.

8. Control the bar - Security guards will help cut off overindulgence at the bar.

9. Watch for vandals - Security guards help ensure no cars are broken into or vandalized.

10. Watch for threats to your home - Security guards are extra eyes to protect your home from things like tipped candles or badly tossed cigarettes.

11. Protect misplaced belongings of guests - Security guards keep watch on keys, wallets, purses, and cell phones.

12. Be your right-hand man - Security guards are the main go-to person to give you peace of mind.

13. End-of-the-night security check - Security guards will help you do a final, full check at the end of the party. A great idea if you're drinking too!

Post sponsored by guardNOW.

Wedne$day Wealth Giveaway Linky

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If you have giveaways to offer, link them up!

Pork Rind Appreciation Day Supports Football Legends in Need

Rudolph Foods, the world’s largest manufacturers of pork rinds, has announced its Second Annual Pork Rind Appreciation Day campaign. Celebrated on the biggest football day of the year, and on the first Sunday of February, Pork Rind Appreciation Day was cemented as an annual event last year after the pork rind leader secured hundreds of thousands of consumer votes, as well as political designations. Matched each year with charitable support, in this second year, Rudolph Foods will support Gridiron Greats, a nonprofit organization that provides medical and financial assistance to former National Football League (NFL) players in dire need. Now through the big game, $.10 of the purchase of all Rudolph Foods branded products will support the organization’s assistance fund (up to $10,000). The campaign is also matched with several opportunities for consumers to play along for chances to win football parties, pork rinds and other prizes.

As part of the 2nd annual campaign, Rudolph Foods is further encouraging lovers of pork rinds to help make the six month campaign a success by visiting the brands web site at www.RudolphFoods.com/PorkRindDay. There, fans can watch videos from football hall of famers, join in on virtual Twitter chats using #PorkRindDay to discuss former players, submit support to Gridiron Greats, learn about the organization and even ENTER TO WIN a Big Game party, complete with sandwiches, pork rinds, a new 50” Plasma TV and of course a personalized video from a Gridiron Greats football legend. Most importantly, consumers can support Gridiron Greats by buying pork rinds online.
The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund’s mission is to assist retired NFL players in need who were pioneers of the game and who have greatly contributed to the NFL’s status as the most popular sport in America. GGAF provides hands-on assistance to help retired players and their families deal with hardships they face after football. The services include medical assistance, transportation costs for medical evaluations and surgeries, housing assistance, financial assistance for utilities, medication, and coordination of services for food, automotive payments and childcare.

New Year's Resolution

When I see homes like this in photos, it never occurs to me that this is how people live in America. I took these photos in a small west Texas town last week. Most of the homes in the town look like these, or worse, with just a few tiny pockets of decent homes there.
I'm told this town has only 13K homes for 30K families. It makes me wonder how many small towns across America have homes like this. I wonder how many children grow up in places like these.
I wonder what I might be able to do to help. Just a few trucks of lumber and some nails would make a huge difference in the lives of these people. It made me so sad to see the children running through the streets in these neighborhoods.
We as Americans send so much money overseas to help the poor in other countries, yet there is so much to do right here at home. My resolution for 2013 (and beyond) is to do more for the poor in America.

Didn't Get What You Wanted? Check Out @Sharper Image

This post brought to you by Sharper Image. All opinions are 100% mine.

Sharper Image is ready to make up for that awful holiday sweater gift! Get yourself what you really wanted with consumer products designed with imagination, creativity, innovation, passion, quality and excitement. Since 1977 Sharper Image has grown from a chain of over 200 stores to be one of the nation's iconic brands, now focused on catalog and website only sales. Consumers can use the Sharper Image website to do extensive product search functionality, informative video clips, customer product reviews and rankings, convenient order tracking, access to real time/toll free customer support, and company related information all providing a content-rich shopping experience! Check out these must-have items from Sharper Image

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Let the Sound Soother awaken you with the sounds of rain or even a bustling city. The dual alarm system means the Sound Soother can be the relaxing sounds that put you to sleep plus the joyful sounds that get you up the next morning. Its sleek brushed metal finish looks great on a nightstand and its extra large display for sound description and digital time makes for easy use. It resets itself after power outages and daylight savings time. The Sound Soother runs continuously and has an auto-off feature for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes.

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The Sharper Image Bluetooth Speaker is small enough to take with you everywhere, but boasts a big sound. This wireless speaker means you're never without your tunes! It connects wirelessly with laptops, computers, and most notebooks. It works up to 30 feet away using your device to control music. It's got a powerful speaker output with an integrated subwoofer for expanded bass response. The Bluetooth Speaker also means you can make hands free phone calls from any smart phone!

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