Giveaway: Back-to-School Care Package from Hallmark

My oldest child on her first day of PreK this year.

The kids are back in school.  And along with the homework and overflowing backpacks comes insecurities, anxiety, and nervousness.  Kids aren't always ready for the exciting and challenging situations the upcoming year holds, and as moms we don't always have the tools to help them.  Well now that's where Hallmark is stepping in.

Hallmark has created some back-to-school tips to help parents encourage and build confidence in their kids both at the beginning of the school year and all year long.

o  Let them hold onto your words. Being a kid can be tough.  Between trying to fit in as well as stand out, school age kids can feel like no one knows what they are going through.  Slip a simple card under their closed door to let them know you get it...and are here for them when they need you.

o  Surprise your child with a lunchtime delight. Fruits and veggies are great but don’t forget about your child’s emotional wellness. The unexpected “I love you” or “good luck” note will let your child know you’re always by their side. Younger kids would appreciate a sticker or smiley face.

o  Read with your children.  Story time is an opportunity to develop reading skills, but it’s also a time for parents and kids to bond. If you can't be there right after school or don't always get home before bedtime, use a recordable book (Hallmark has several cute ones) so your child can always hear your voice.  Everyone knows the calming voice of Mom  eases a variety of fears.

GIVEAWAY
Hallmark wants to give one lucky reader some help easing their child's return to school.  The winner of this giveaway will receive Hallmark's Back-to-School Confidence Care package, which includes:

·         Hallmark’s Kids Collection three-card pack:  features topics for young kids, including nerves about school and positive reinforcement for hard work, as well as topics for tweens/teens, such as peer pressure and choosing friends wisely.

·         Lunchbox Notes: 50 tiny cards to throw in a lunch box and add a little love to lunchtime.

·         Recordable Storybook:  allows you to record your voice, and your little ones can read along with you even if you’re away.

To enter just leave a comment below telling me what kind of worries you had when you went back to school as a kid.  (I worried about being so different then everyone else.)  Giveaway ends at 6pm September 12, 2011.

EXTRA ENTRIES: 

• Follow @mariarsmith on Twitter (Leave an additional comment for this entry.)
• Follow this blog (You can follow by email easily.  Leave an additional comment for this entry.)
• Tweet: "Win a Hallmark back-to-school package from @mariarsmith: http://tinyurl.com/3f7fcmp" (Leave an additional comment for this entry.)

For more information, please visit http://www.hallmark.com/life.

Full Disclosure: I received a back-to-school care package from Hallmark to review prior to this giveaway.  All opinions are, as always, my own.  

When Disney World comes to Atlanta...

Everyone takes notice! This is why I was so excited to be invited to the Disney Summer Social that took place today at the Buckhead W. It was one gigantic playmate with some of the best bloggers in the business.

One thing I have learned from following bloggers who have gone to Disney events is that Disney never disappoints. They had games, crafts, and delicious food in a fun, low key atmosphere. Of course there were also cool gift bags to take home. It was perfect for my crew (all under 5) which makes it fun for me too. Plus, I got to do a little mingling with the Walt Disney World representative and some "rock star" bloggers! It is always fun to hear what everyone is doing and what cool events they have coming up.

I have always been a Disney fan and I think I will always be one. I fell in love with Walt Disney World when my parents took my sisters and I there when I was 16. Going back a couple times with my own kids makes it even more of a special place. Events like The Disney Summer Social just reinforce that love! As for my daughter, all she cares about is her new favorite accessory...princess Mickey ears! Thanks Disney!

Family Fall Travel Deals: Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach

The "dog days" of summer are long gone for most families.  They are replaced by the hustle and bustle of carpool, sports schedules and homework...ah the homework.  (My kids start getting homework at three years old in their preschool!)  With the hectic schedule starting again you may wish you took more time to get away during the summer.  Well, you still can...and it won't cost you a bundle.

Why not let your kids try surfing this fall?

The uber-luxurious Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach has a terrific "Family Fun in the Sun" deal that is good now through October 31, 2011.  Starting at $319 a night you can take the whole family to the beach for a long weekend!  The package includes: 

• Overnight accommodations with private balcony
• Kids’ welcome amenity of milk and cookies upon arrival
• Kids’ meals for up to (2) children, ages 4-12 (children under 4 always eat free)
• 20% off most non-motorized watersports
• 20% off AquaNuts kids program
• 20% off second guestroom if needed

This amazing hotel will not disappoint.  It is situated directly on the Atlantic Ocean and while it has the posh address of Palm Beach, it is not stuffy and is very family-friendly.  There are tons of things for kids of all ages to do so you won't even have to leave the resort if you don't want to!  And if you go, sneak away to the Eau Spa for some "mom time".  You'll return refreshed, relaxed, and ready for Monday morning carpool!

Princess Power! Disney on Ice returns to Atlanta

Princess lovers (and those that love them): Unite!  Get ready to get "tangled" up in the newest  show to hit the ice, at Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream playing Philips Arena October 12-16, 2011.  (See below for great offer.)

Experience Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled; as Rapunzel, her unlikely companion, Flynn, and Maximus, embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths!  Boogie to the beat of the bayou with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen in a magical, musical journey that all begins with a fateful kiss.  Fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true. All your favorite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime!  Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream comes to Atlanta!

SPECIAL OPENING NIGHT TICKET OFFER

Purchase tickets to opening night, Wed. Oct. 12^th at 7:30pm for only $15*

*Valid on the regularly priced $30, and $22 seats. Additional fees may apply.

 Or

 SAVE 20% on all other performances by entering customer code “ZXD”

Valid on the regularly priced $30, $22 and $14 seats. Additional fees may apply. Enter customer code in the advance and promotion ticket offer box on ticketmaster.com to redeem the offer.

Hurry offer ends, August 25^th.

Click here to purchase tickets

For show information, visit www.DisneyonIce.com

(Offers are not valid on Rinkside and VIP seats.  Additional service charges and handling fees may apply.)

Lessons from Blogher11

I had an amazing time in San Diego at BlogHer  '11 (thanks to my sponsor, EmpowHER)!  After thinking about all the things I wanted to post, I decided to just keep it simple and let you know some key ideas that I learned that go beyond the nuts and bolts of blogging.


1. Do the tequila shot! At least one night commit to NOT being the party pooper.

I ran the BlogHer 5k!

2. Don't take the first flight home. Give yourself time to rest before jumping back into the "Mom, what's for dinner" role.
3. Tweet away but remember that looking in someone's eyes when talking to them goes a long way.
4. Even if your a Rock Star, Hall of Fame blogger, remember you weren't always in such high demand. Don't act like it.
5. Sit with people you don't know. It's a little daunting but I had some of the best conversations that way.  And while you're at it, try some things you've never tried.  Like running a 5K!
6. Look for the brand managers for the companies you like and talk to them. Seek them out. Don't just grab the swag from the intern and run.
7. Staying at the conference hotel is great but the bonus of not staying there is you actually get to see the city you're in.  And San Diego was beautiful!
8. Sit down and have a meal. Mini Jimmy Dean biscuits and Dove bars does not constitute lunch (but they would make a delicious snack right about now).
9. Have a goal and a plan for while you're there but don't be rigid. Even if you usually aren't this type of person, just go with the flow.
10. Ease into the day. Spending 15 min to check out the schedule, catch up on the news or enjoy the view starts the day off right.
11. Sometimes people who seem aloof and distant are just shy. Be friendly to everyone and it is amazing how people open up.

 EmpowHER threw a private yacht party

12. Don't be a swag whore.  And don't "swag and dip" (out the door) either.  The Big Toy Book Sweet Suite gave me some great things to bring home to my kids, it was really good because I got one-on-one time with the products and the brands behind them (like KidzVuz).
13. Sometimes the private events are just as cool as you think they will be.  It pays to make connections prior to going to BlogHer. 

Upscale Magazine Prize Pack Giveaway

I don't get a chance to read magazines too much anymore but was recently sent a couple copies of Upscale Magazine and felt like it definitely improved my "mamalicious" quotient! It was sexy and informative and really well-written. I'm a stickler for good journalism and they definitely do a good job at providing interesting and relevant copy in quality form. And, I felt more "in the know" after flipping through it.

So I'm happy to announce that I am hosting a Upscale Magazine Prize Pack giveaway on my Examiner.com column. PLUS, I have some GREAT discount codes for anyone who wants to read "what successful people read". Check it out: Upscale Magazine Prize Pack Giveaway

The easiest slow cooker chicken recipe EVER

I have a new go-to meal and it is the easiest, but tastiest slow cooker recipe ever!  Since I just received 40 pounds of chicken from Zaycon Foods, I pulled out this recipe and love it even more with fresh chicken breasts. And it only takes two ingrediants: chicken and BBQ sauce.

Recipe
Take chicken (boneless, skinless breasts work best but you can use any piece of chicken you just have to pick out the bones before eating) and dump it in the slow cooker.  Pour your favorite BBQ sauce on top and set it on high for 4-6 hours or low 6-8 hours.  When it's done, the chicken is so moist and tasty.  I serve it over rice or as pulled chicken on hamburger buns.  You don't even have to defrost the chicken, just use the high setting on your slow cooker!

This is so good!  You can thank me later. :)

Two parents, three kids, and 40 pounds of chicken

I like chicken.  I like it fried, seared, bar-b-qued, roasted, and baked.  I like it in salads and casseroles, and in dips and bakes.  I don't eat red meat so you get the picture...my family of five eats a lot of chicken.  So when Stacie Haight Connerty of The Divine Miss Mommy told me about Zaycon Foods and their offer of 40lbs of fresh skinless chicken breasts for area bloggers I couldn't reply "Yes!" fast enough!  And, I'm so glad I did!

I picked up a box full of 40 lbs of top-quality chicken the first week in August.  You could tell by looking at it that it was fresh, and even though it was one of the hottest days of the year, it smelled fresh ,too.  And, it tasted so good!  It reminded me of growing up in Wisconsin and eating corn on the cob that was picked within a few hours of putting it on the grill.  You can just taste freshness.

Zaycon Foods is a direct farm to consumer private company founded to bring quality meat and other products direct to consumers at a wholesale rate.  Their chicken is hormone-free, never frozen, and really, really fresh.  (In fact, the Zaycon representative told me my box of chicken was clucking around a pen three days earlier.  He said most grocery stores stock chicken parts that are 15 days old.)  By selling only by the case and to a large group at once, they are able to harness a collective buying power and keep the costs low (about $1.45/lb).  Here's some more information on why Zaycon Foods is so unique:

1) COMBINED          BUYING      POWER	2) DIRECT            FARM-TO-            CONSUMER	3) SOLD BY      THE CASE	4) SELECT      PRODUCTS	5) SALES EVENT      MODEL
We combine the buying power of many families together, enabling us to negotiate huge savings on food purchases for your family	We bring products direct from the farm / processor (or as nearly as direct as possible). The products are as fresh as if you had your own farm, but without all the chores	We sell food products only by the case. No extra costs for handling. And no more empty shelves in your pantry	We sell only what we eat ourselves—high quality, healthy food. Our focus is on a select number of commonly consumed food items such as fresh meats like chicken, beef, turkey, pork and fish	Our unique sales event approach turns traditional food purchasing on its ear. Convenient, quick, organized—about 2 minutes and you never even need to get out of your car

So, you ask, would did I do with 40lbs of chicken?  I was wondering what I would do with it but it actually was super easy.  I happen to have two neighbors who were very pregnant so I shared some chicken with them to help them prepare some casseroles to freeze for later.  And the rest of the chicken my husband (thank goodness for him) cut it up and put it in several individual freezer bags for later.  I used one bag the next day and made the easiest chicken slow cooker recipe ever (see post) and am saving the rest for when the mood hits me.  I love being able to skip the chicken section in Publix!

Zaycon Foods would like to be able to offer their discounted but amazingly good food in Atlanta but they need more interest.  If this sounds at all interesting to you, then register on their website to get more information about possible Atlanta sales events.  In the referral box, please put Mamalicious Maria.

 Cluck, cluck...enjoy!!

Disclosure:  I received 40lbs of chicken breasts from Zaycon Foods in exchange for a review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are true, accurate, and my own.

Win a trip to Disney World with the "Discover What You Treasure" sweepstakes

I had the chance to visit with some Verizon employees and check out some of their newest products during a private luncheon at BlogHer last week. It was great to be able to ask questions in a relaxed atmosphere and see, touch, and hear some really cool technology (The Verizon tablet looks so cool and was thinner then my iPad.) They have a new sweepstakes out now in conjunction with Walt Disney World to promote their Mobile Disney app. One lucky winner will win a trip to Disney World for them and 3 family members! Get more information here: Win a trip to Disney World with the "Discover What You Treasure" sweepstakes

Go see The Help this weekend (and you could win prizes)

The fantastic, OMG-you-have-to-see-it movie of the summer is The Help, based on the novel of the same name by Atlanta resident Kathryn Stockett.  I had the opportunity to see an advance screening at the Mocha Moms Inc National Conference and even meet some of the stars.  I was so impressed!  The cinemetography and story line really capitvated me and I thought everyone left the theater with something to talk about.  Those are my favorite kind of movies...the ones that get you talking.

Actress Octavia Spencer signs an autograph at an advance screening of The Help

The Help opens nationwide tomorrow, August 10, 2011.  Since the lines will be long (especially if you are in the South where I think there will be a big showing of support) go ahead and purchase an advance movie ticket for The Help, at Fandango.com using promo code 081011 to enter The Help sweepstakes.  All tickets purchased on Fandango using this code from July 25 through August 28 will be eligible to win. 

SWEEPSTAKES: Every person that purchases a movie ticket for The Help between 7/25/11 – 8/28/11  at the Fandango site using the promo code 081011 will automatically be entered into a daily drawing for a chance to win one of 175 limited edition tote bags from The Help.

GRAND PRIZE: Every person who purchases a movie ticket for The Help between 7/25/11 – 8/28/11 via the Fandango site using the promo code 081011 will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a cash prize of $1500.

Grab your girls or make it a date night, either way, go see The Help!  And then tell me what you thought!

I had breakfast with Bob Harper!

I am a huge Biggest Loser fan so I was super excited to get in invite to the BlogHer breakfast with star trainer Bob Harper. It was especially fun since I'm here on behalf of a EmpowHER (http://www.EmpowHER.com) a health and wellness website for women. They are all about helping women achieve their goals (weight loss or otherwise).

Obviously I'm not a huge workout person but I am trying to get back in pre-baby shape (or at least pre-baby jeans) so I was hoping to get some information from Bob. And I did! I even got to ask him a question! I asked him when should you just be happy...when is your body good enough? His answer was so good! He said (paraphrasing): "After having a baby, there comes a time when you should redefine your expectations for yourself. Of course you should workout and eat healthier but maybe you won't look exactly like you did pre-baby. Be happy in the process." Oh and said I look great. Swoon.

(Sorry the photo is not the best...it was so excited to be so close to him)!

I ran (not walked) a 5k!

I am not a runner. I am not a fitness guru. I like the gym because it has childcare not because I enjoy working out. I'm really just an average mom of three still carrying a little extra baby weight but I RAN A 5K!

The <a href="http://EmpowHER.com">EmpowHER</a> crew, who is sponsoring my BlogHer experience, has been so encouraging and cheered me on as I ran. It was a beautiful course along the San Diego harbor and very normal without a communal start. It was cool (under 70 degrees) and so I decided I would try my best to run the whole thing. And I did. I'm pretty hard on myself usually but this time I'm proud.