Wordless Wednesday Heart Valentine's Pancakes for Breakfast

Zari made everyone Heart Valentine's Pancakes for Breakfast.

Zari with the Heart Valentine's Pancake for me.

World Heart Day Infographic

World Heart Day is September 29th and Culturelle Probiotic has made a fun infographic to see how well you know this important organ. Cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death, accounting for 17.3 million deaths per year, a number that is expected to grow to more than 23.6 million by 2030. The numbers don’t lie—keeping up with your cardiovascular health is something that should be recognized every day not just on September 29th.

This is why Culturelle Probiotic recently introduced new Pro-Well 3-in-1 Complete Formula to its line of everyday wellness products, which contains 100% Lactobacillus GG to maintain both digestive and overall immune health, along with naturally sourced Omega-3s to support a healthy cardiovascular system.*

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I am receiving free product in posting this information but this does not sway my opinions. I received this information all from Culturelle Probiotic. The information provided on this blog post is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). I am not a medical professional, just a mom with a opinion. Even if a statement made about the product is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. I am only suggesting that you should try it for yourself and see if helps you. People are all different and outcomes could vary drastically.

Tatutina Big Sister T-Shirt Review

Tatutina is a wonderful online store with unique products that are all very colorful and happy. A lot of their products are hand painted/screened and all of them that are, use paint that is certified non-toxic and lead free. They have such a fun and funky way of creating their designs! I fell in love with the colors and bright patterns of all their products. They have clothing, gifts, jewelry, and art.

We received the Big Sister T-Shirt to review for free. This is an adorable shirt that has bright pink, orange and yellow butterflies graphics on a lavender background. It is hand screened and has the words Big Sister on it as well as the butterfly designs. Made from soft 100% cotton that is machine washable and dryer safe. It is available in three sizes: 2, 4, and 5/6.

Teela is my oldest daughter. She is 8 and is a big sister to my youngest daughter, Zari who is almost 6. I received the largest size shirt and was pleased to find that the Big Sister T-Shirt runs a little big which is good because my 8 year old can still wear it. Teela is slender so keep that also in mind. This shirt is so cute! I love the bright designs and the butterflies! Such a great way to show sisterhood!

BE SOCIAL 
Favorite them on Etsy

Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

BUY IT
The Big Sister T-Shirt can be purchased in Tatutina's Etsy shop for $15. They also have a Big Brother T-Shirt.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Trudeau Valentine's Day Review and Tips For a Perfect Breakfast In Bed

Heart shaped chocolates made with Trudeau chocolate molds. Heart shaped egg and pancake made with Trudeau Egg Ring.

I received the Trudeau products free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

The best way to make Valentine's Day super special this year is making your loved one breakfast in bed. Your loved one will appreciate being catered to while being able to sleep in. Nothing is better than waking up to the smell of something yummy cooking in the kitchen! Go ahead, spoil your significant other rotten and don't overlook this treat!

Sometimes it is hard to get up early and keep it a surprise, though. I have some tips below that will help with making the breakfast in bed perfect. Making the breakfast with Trudeau's kitchen gadgets makes it more fun and even more extra special too because it is all in the little details that counts!

Tips to Make Breakfast in Bed Perfect:

• Timing is Important: Make sure your loved one doesn't have to eat and run. It is better to pick a time and day that they have plenty of time to leisurely enjoy breakfast in bed and savor the experience.
• Get a Bed Tray: Buy a tray with sides so that the food will stay contained and not spill onto the bed or floor. One that has folding legs is nice as well so that the food will be raised up off of the person's lap. It is easier to eat this way. You can also use a small laptop desk if you can't find a tray.
• Presentation is Everything: It is the little things that make it extra special for someone else. Get out the fine china and pretty silverware. Use flowers as decoration: a single flower on the tray, flower petals sprinkled around the plate, edible flowers (you could even get crystallized candied edible flowers or make your own) placed on the plate. Use cloth napkins: You can fold these into all kinds of fun romantic shapes and some come in pretty floral or heart patterns. Make a card with a nice note on it or menu of the food to go with the meal. Decorate with a pretty placemat, paper doilies and/or confetti. Use heart shaped containers like bowls, reusable cupcake liners, etc. Sometimes the food can be formed or cut out into romantic shapes too!
• Know What You Are Making For Breakfast: There are a lot of great choices out there and it does help to know your partner's favorites. Plan ahead and make sure you have all the ingredients, etc. before the big surprise. Don't forget the salt and pepper or cream and sugar, if needed.
• Prepare the Breakfast Like a Ninja: If you sleep in the same bed as your partner get up early and sneak away stealthily. If they wake have a good excuse to make sure they go back to sleep. Make the breakfast as quietly as possible so you don't wake your partner prematurely. Sometimes you can also chop or mix the ingredients the night before. If you don't want them spoiling the surprise you can also put a towel in the crack under the bedroom door so they won't smell the evidence. Also try to clean up any messes before they are served so you can spend time with them and not kill the mood by having a messy kitchen.
• Serve Drinks Only ¾ Full: Pouring beverages, especially the hot ones, ¾ of the way full will make sure they are not easily spilled when the tray is in transit.
• Make Them Comfortable: When bringing the tray of food to your love, set it aside so you can prepare their area. Puff up the pillows and add extra pillows so they can sit up comfortably in bed. Straighten out the covers so that the tray can be on a flat surface. Add a towel, folded table cloth, or small blanket under the tray when you place it to catch any crumbs.
• Get Them In The Mood: Play some nice music, give them a good book or the morning paper to read, watch a favorite show on TV, or just have a nice conversation while they eat.
• Clean Up After: After they are done with their breakfast pamper them by taking the tray and cleaning up. While doing the dishes run a luxurious bath for them to relax in. While they are enjoying that don't forget to make the bed too.

4-Inch Silicone Egg Ring, Red Heart:
This Heart Shaped Egg Ring is made of non-stick, heat resistant (up to 428°F-220°C), and and BPA free silicone and is top rack dishwasher safe. This also doesn't scratch your pans like the metal egg rings. It is wonderful for making 4-inch diameter heart shaped eggs (use large or extra large eggs) and pancakes! These work better to if you make sure the Trudeau logo is right side up because the lip on one side is thicker than the other and it is easily flipped around. The thicker edge on the bottom helps with keeping the egg and pancake inside the ring. Also, since it is 4-inches it is slightly too big for a piece of bread or English muffin. The adjustable, metal bar grip handle is great so that you can lift the ring up without burnt fingers after one side is done to be able to flip the egg or pancake over. It also swings around so that you can place it flat in a drawer. 5 year warranty. - MSRP $5.99

Set of 3 Chocolate Silicone Molds, Heart Shaped:
These chocolate heart molds have 15 cavities each and come in a set of 3 in different colors. They are made from flexible, heat resistant  (up to 428°F-220°C), and BPA free European grade silicone that is easy to clean and are top rack dishwasher safe. These effortlessly release the chocolate from each heart shaped cavity. Great for making chocolates, ice hearts, gelatin/homemade fruit snacks/gummies, candies, small candle/wax crayon melts, soap samples, etc. I used my double broiler pot to melt the dark chocolate melts and butterscotch chips. I had fun experimenting and swirled the two in some, layered them in others, and put red hots in some of them too. My kids had fun helping as well. These are super easy to use. Approx mold size; 2.5cm/1" diameter each x 1.5cm/0.5" deep. – MSRP $11.99

Be Social:
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/trudeaucuisine
Twitter - http://twitter.com/trudeaukitchen
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/trudeaucorp

BUY IT
You can purchase all items from Trudeau.  Or you can help me out by purchasing on Amazon with my affiliate links. Thanks...


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Wordless Wednesday Heart Shaped Leaf

Zari found a heart shaped leaf on one of the Lemon Trees.

We love our garden and orchard!

Living Heart Healthy

This post is sponsored by Campbell's Soup Company.

Living a heart healthy lifestyle is very important to my family. My family tries to stay heart healthy a number of ways. We are slowly modifying our diet and activity level to better do this.

These are the things we are working towards to stay heart healthy:

• Getting a good amount of exercise: Make regular physical activity part of your lifestyle.
• Children and adolescence should get at least an hour or more per day of moderate or vigorous intensity aerobic age-appropriate physical activity. Vigorous activity should be done at least 3 days of the week. Activities should also include muscle-strengthening and bone strengthening on at least 3 days of the week.
• Healthy Adults should get 2-1/2 hours per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, or a minimum of 1-1/4 hours per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or a combination of the two. Adults should also aim to do muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days a week.
• Older Adults who are healthy should follow the guidelines for healthy adults. If older adults cannot meet these guidelines because of health reasons should do at least what their abilities and conditions allow. Older adults who are at risk of falling should also include activities that promote balance.
• Drinking enough water:
• Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day. All healthy fluids (soups, water, 100% juice, herbal tea) count toward the daily total. I dislike the taste of tap water and my irony well water is down right gross so, I compensate with my Zing Anything Citrus Juicer, naturally flavored water, 100% juice that is watered down, herbal tea, or soup.
• Eating plenty of good fats: (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and good saturated fats)
• Try to eliminate trans fats from your diet. Check food labels for trans fats (avoid anything with partially hydrogenated oil). Avoid commercially-baked goods, packaged snack foods, margarine, vegetable shortening, candy bars and fried foods. Bake, broil, or grill instead of frying. Also limit or eliminate fast food. We are slowly doing this, but habits can be very hard to break. I need to make my own baked goods and snacks from scratch.
• Limit your intake of saturated fats. Cut back on red meat (lean cuts are better than fatty). Try replacing red meat with beans, nuts, poultry, and fish whenever possible. Eat better saturated fats like: whole fat dairy (raw is better), butter, cheese, ice cream, palm and coconut oil. We actually do pretty good with this one. We eat a lot more white meats like poultry or fish than we do red meats. I need to cook with beans more often and we love all manner of nuts.
• Eat omega-3 fats every day. Good sources include fish, walnuts, ground flax seeds, flaxseed oil. We want to incorporate aquaponics (growing fish and hydroponics, plants in water, in a balanced symbiotic system) in our agriculture. We will then have a free natural and organic source of fish for the omega-3 fats. We also already have walnut trees and love to eat them raw or in foods.
• Eating more fruits and veggies. Fruits and veggies are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber and low in fat and calories. I am planning on canning/freezing/drying my own and having my own year round garden.
• Making more healthy, well balanced meals at home. Eating healthy well balanced meals will help in keeping your body strong. Have good time management, proper ingredients and tools, a meal plan and recipes that are both easy and nutritious. I struggle with this because I do not manage my time very well and end up procrastinating and not knowing what I am going to fix. Doing these steps will help me.
• Minimizing and Managing the stress. Laugh more, don't let little things stress you out or make you angry, meditate or do a relaxing exercise like yoga, listen to nice music, take time out for yourself, do a relaxing hobby, etc.
• Getting enough sleep. Getting a good amount of sleep helps with keeping your body well rested and working well.

Other great things that keep your heart healthy that my family already does:

• Not smoking and trying not to be around people that do. Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body. Smoking is a major risk factor of heart disease. Second hand smoke is bad for you also.
• Not drinking alcohol. Alcoholism can cause high blood pressure, obesity, stroke and a number of other health problems.
• Minimizing the caffeine. Caffeine increases: alertness (therefore can make you miss sleep you need), cravings of fats and carbs, and stress levels (making you grumpy, edgy, and agitated). Too much caffeine can be bad for your heart because of the constant raised adrenalin levels. This can eventually take a toll on your body as well.

Here are 5 of my favorite recipes from the American Heart Association Certified Recipes:

Broccoli Cheddar Rice


Creamy Turkey & Vegetable Lasagna


Louisiana-Style Chicken, Sausage & Shrimp Skillet


Polenta Turkey Bake


Tilapia & Vegetable Casserole
 

Campbell’s Soup wants you to “Address Your Heart” with Heart Healthy Tips, recipes and more! Visit AddressYourHeart.com to get heart-healthy tips, including 21 Campbell’s recipes that are certified by the AHA and product coupons, as well as Facebook.com/campbellskitchen for the latest Campbell’s recipes and offers.

Click here to get Campbell’s money saving coupons.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: This post is sponsored by Campbell's Soup Company. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else.

Foodie Friday Valentine's Breakfast in Bed

I love Pinterest and have been pinning my favorite things there lately. I wanted to share some awesome ideas for Valentine's Day breakfasts that I found on there that you can surprise your sweatheart in bed with :) Here they are numbered on the collage photo. I have given credit to everyone that I know that the pictures and information came from. I hope you enjoy this post and comment. Click on the collage and you can see it bigger.

1. If you like morning coffee, have a fancy heart latte instead. On WikiHow they show you just how this art is done. Credit for the picture goes to Lattes and Wanderlust blog.

2. Make some heart shaped scones. There are a bunch of heart shaped scone recipes online. One of my favorites comes from the Such Pretty Things blog and is a Cherry Chocolate Chip Heart Scone. Yum!

3. This delicious recipe comes from Our Best Bites and are Mini Puffed Oven Pancakes with Berry Sauce.

4. Craving doughnuts? These yummy Heart-Shaped Doughnuts from Miss Elena Eous will be the sweetest treat.

5. Here is what my family calls Heart Egg in a Hole Toast. The Petite Kitchenesse calls her version the Valentine’s Day Egg in the Basket.

6. Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls are so wonderful right out of the oven! Credit goes to the Poppies at Play blog.

7. You need a special heart shaped waffle iron for these waffles. Credit goes to NilsenLife.

8. If you love bacon in the morning, try this easy tip for Bacon Hearts from The Paper Mama.

9. These Sweetie Pies are filled with jam and are a special treat from The Farm Chicks.

10. I love french toast! This Heart Shaped French Toast recipe comes from Land O Lakes and comes with a recipe for Strawberry Butter to spread on top.

11. These Heart Fruit Kabobs are healthy and sweet. They come from Parents.com.

12. These Heart Shaped Hard Boiled Eggs look difficult, but are actually easy to do. Head on over to Anna The Red to see her technique.

13. Korean born these interesting omelets called GyeRan Mali are really tasty and Aeri's Kitchen has a neat technique to make them heart shaped.

14. You can make Heart Shaped Pancakes a number of ways, but Martha Stewart has a recipe that you don't need a heart shaped pancake mold for.

15. Last, but not least another Martha Stewart gem...Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow Hearts.

Something to consider, there are kitchen tools that might make your Valentine's breakfast easier and these are also great Valentine's gift ideas for someone who loves to cook!

Here is a list:


I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and a superb Valentine's breakfast!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post. I have credited all of the photos and ideas. I have affiliate links for products off of Amazon listed in this post. I have not tried any of these products myself, so please read other reviews about them before you purchase. Thanks for supporting my blog. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post.

Smart Mom Red Heart Teething Bling Review and Giveaway

It is coming up on Valentine's Day and I think the perfect gift for a mom with a little one that is teething is a Red Heart Teething Bling pendant necklace from Smart Mom Jewelry. This is why I have included it in my Amore Valentine's Gift Guide.

These necklaces are perfect for wearing around little ones because they are safe to chew on and won't harm wearer or teether. The pendants have a clasp that when tugged on will pop open so it won't choke the wearer and it also doesn't break the clasp. Teething Bling is made from plastic that is food-safe, non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, latex, lead, and PVC free. They are also dishwasher-friendly.

The Red Heart Teething Bling pendant necklace is so stylish for Valentine's Day. I love it! The color of it is more a hot pink or bright magenta than a true red, but I thought it was beautiful. They have other heart shaped pendants listed in their products under their Tween Bling line if you like camouflage or jungle prints. I would love to see a heart shaped pendant in a candy apple red shimmer and raspberry shimmer color too!

BUY IT:
Red Heart Pendants will be available to purchase at Smart Mom the week before Valentine's. All of the Smart Mom Jewelry would be a wonderful gift this Valentine's Day for a mom to a small one or a mother to be. Teething/Teen Bling Pendants cost $15.99-$23.99, Bangles cost $12.99 individually. You can even design your own gift set of either 3 bangles ($28.75) of your choice or one pendant and two bangles ($34.00) of your choice.

WIN IT:
Amy at Smart Mom is giving one lucky reader a chance to win a Red Heart Pendant.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Teething Bling from Smart Mom Jewelry website and tell me what other item you love.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (3 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and write something on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (GFC) on the right sidebar and/or Networked Blogs Let me know what your user name is. (2 extra entries each)

4. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Teething Bling from Smart Mom Jewelry in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

5. Give me a brief POSITIVE review on Alexa and provide me with your user name. (3 extra entries)

6. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the right) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

7. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

8. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

9. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog Linky/Link-up and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

10. Write about this giveaway with a link to this post on your Facebook wall, Kirtsy, StumbleUpon, Google+ or other social media website besides Twitter. Let me know where. (2 extra entries for each)

11. Comment on my regular (not giveaway) posts. Let me know which one. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

12. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

13. Tweet this: @finamoon: @TeethingBling #WIN A Smart Mom Teething Bling Red Heart Pendant #Giveaway #valentines http://bit.ly/vYZYt2 (Daily Extras are Available)

14. Fan/Like Teething Bling on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

15. Follow Teething Bling on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. Don't forget to leave a comment for each task and the correct amount of entries for each task. This contest ends on Friday February 10, 2012 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to all 18 years and over in the U.S. only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Smart Mom, LLC for sending me a Red Heart Pendant for my Valentine's Amore Gift Guide 2012 for free, and another to give away for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Victorian Station Review

Victorian Station is an Etsy store I came across when looking for items to review for my daughter Teela's 2nd birthday party. This wonderful shop has lovely things that center around vintage, Victorian, shabby chic, French, and cottage style. They have homemade albums, magnets, journals, notebooks, gift tags, cards, vintage photos, shadow boxes, burlap and collage art, purses and handbags, sachets and pillows.

I received a free set of 3 heart shape sachets filled with 1 cup of lavender buds from France and a touch of flax seed to review for the Princess Tea Party Birthday Blog Carnival that I hosted for my daughter, Teela, on my blog in April. The flannel material has cupcakes, strawberries and flowers on it and I love the fabric. They were great substitutes for bean bags to play games with at the party. They were all tied up with pretty pink satin ribbon when they arrived and smelled absolutely divine! These are perfect size for Teela to hold and she also loved how they smelled. They will go nicely anywhere there needs to be the soothing and relaxing fragrance of lavender. I think we might tuck ours in a: pillow case with a pillow at night, chest full of linens, and room that needs refreshing. I also love the Cupcake bag with vintage pompoms that matches the sachets that I received from her shop.

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Victorian Station for participating in the the Princess Tea Party Birthday Blog Carnival on my blog and for providing me with the 3 heart shape sachets for free to test and review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.