Preparing for our Mini-Vacation

On Thursday we head out for our mini-vacation to Branson, MO. We choose Branson for most of our get-a-way trips due to it being close for us to drive to and it fits into our one income family budget. Every year we try to get seasons passes to Silver Dollar City . That way we can visit all year for just a little over the price of one day admission. Very budget friendly!! This time, other than the SDC seasons passes, I decided to plan our trip based on internet deals. I started with finding a hotel room. Our budget was set for $100.00 total for two nights. Not an easy task to find a decent room in that price range. After searching around for a few hours I decided Priceline would be our best bet. I have used them before and have yet to be disappointed. Scored a room for two nights for $88.00 by using Express Deals. Under budget WOOHOO!! That also includes a full breakfast buffet for free and that is a huge help!! The downside to using express deals on Priceline is you do not know the hotel name until you have made the purchase. Like I said before I have yet to be disappointed in Priceline and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this experience will prove the same.
Next we needed a few  fun activities to fill in when we are not rollin on the coasters at SDC and I found  just that on Groupon for half the original  price. ( Discovery Center in Springfield, MO & a photo shoot at Buster's Old Time Photo  ) If you are not aware of what Groupon offers I suggest you pop on over to their website and check it out!! I also did a search for happenings in Branson and discovered that there will be a FREE Weather Show going on with activities for kids. Another plus is that this is being held at the hotel we are staying at so we can check it out easily on our down time.  Check back as I will be keeping you updated on all the fun stuff we do!

~thatmommygirl~ :)

Danny Boy! Happy Saint Patrick's Day to all! One of my faves :)

Our after dinner snack.

Over the past 8 months I have lost 33 pounds (my husband over 40 pounds) counting calories, walking, and light exercise. We both have been working real hard to shed those extra unwanted pounds. Every once in a while we need a little treat so I made these yummy muffins for an after dinner snack. I added my own modifications to the recipe and they turned out great!!

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups self-rising flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup egg beaters

3/4 cup skim milk

1 tsp vanilla 

Topping:

4 tbs melted butter 

3/4 cup white sugar

1 tbs cinnamon 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 muffin cups with muffin liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon.

in a small bowl whisk together butter, sugar, egg beaters, milk and vanilla.

Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Divide batter equally among muffin cups. Bake 25 minutes or until muffin tops are a pale golden and springy to the touch.(rotating halfway through baking time.)

While muffins are baking mix cinnamon and sugar in a medium size bowl. Place melted butter in a small bowl. Once the muffins are baked and still hot dip muffin tops in the melted butter  and roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture.

This is just a cell pic but you get the idea. Maybe next time I make them I will drag out the big camera and get some real foodtogrophy ;)
Recipe is shown here the exact way I made it with my modifications.

~thatmommygirl~ :)

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup oil (or melted butter)
3/4 cup white sugar
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk
For the Coating:
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Read more at http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2011/05/cinnamon-sugar-doughnut-muffins/#tEu9uF1msQ5piIFZ.99

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup oil (or melted butter)
3/4 cup white sugar
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk
For the Coating:
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with muffin liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.
In small bowl whisk together oil, sugar, egg and milk.
Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups. Bake until muffin tops are a pale golden and springy to the touch, 22 to 24 minutes, rotating halfway through baking time.
While the muffins are baking, combine sugar and cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl. Place melted butter in a small bowl. Once baked, shake muffins out immediately and while hot, dip in melted butter, then roll in sugar and cinnamon.

Read more at http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2011/05/cinnamon-sugar-doughnut-muffins/#tEu9uF1msQ5piIFZ.99

Spring is in the air!

For a few days anyway. From the looks of things for this week we get two days of 70+ and sunshine then back to under 40 with rain/snow. :( I am keeping my fingers crossed that Spring Break next week will be nice and sunny! Things can change. Right? Hubby J can only get two days off at the end of the week. We are planning a road trip to Branson, MO and a few days at Silver Dollar City. (WOOHOO Lots of roller coaster riding for this Mommy Girl!)  Last Spring Break we did the same and ended up snowed in our hotel room. For the kids sake and my sanity I am hoping that things are much better this year. 
I have been itching to get out and start walking again. We were finally able to get in a good long walk.

  Here is my "not so little any more" Rock Star showing off on our evening walk.  He makes everything fun! 


I haven't posted an MOMS moment for a long while so I guess it's time: I was running around frantically looking for my phone. I kept telling my mom "I just have to find my phone! Because I am lost without it." After almost tearing the house apart looking for it I finally realized.... I was talking to my mom on it! Apparently I am lost with my phone as well. Yes, my mom who had the first case of MOMS in our family didn't realize it either ;)

~thatmommygirl~ :)

Green Mountain Coffee® Fair Trade ~ Review

Excited! That's what I was when I found out I was getting to try Green Mountain Coffee® Fair Trade Certified™ coffees. I love my morning coffee and trying new flavors seems to be a hobby of mine. ;) I was fortunate to try Vermont Country Blend, Wild Mountain Blueberry,Colombian Fair Trade Select, and Sumatran Reserve. With the later being my favorite! I found the Sumatran Reserve a perfect start to my hectic morning rounding up the kiddos for school. A nice dark roast that is just enhanced even more with a little cream and sugar. My husband and I enjoyed all of the flavors. We did notice that the Wild Mountain Blueberry seemed to taste a bit different as it cooled down. Not bad but the flavor seemed to change to us.

 

Not only is this coffee delicious but when purchasing Green Mountain Coffee® Fair Trade Certified™ coffees you can help improve an entire community. 

Don't forget to check out  acclaimed musicians Grace Potter and Michael Franti  trips to Colombia and Sumatra via the  Green Mountain Coffee FaceBook page.  Watch them experience why Fair Trade means better coffee for you and a better life for farmers. You can also enjoy a live stream of  their  concerts. 

As a BuzzAgent in the Green Mountain Coffee® Fair Trade BzzCampaign  I was given K-cup coffee samples and coupons to use for myself and to share.

~thatmommygirl~

Glade Expressions® Collection ~ Review

 BzzAgent time again!
 I was given the opportunity to give the Glade Expressions® Collection a try.
I tend to have problems with strong scents giving me headaches so I entered into this campaign with caution. First I started with the Cotton & Italian Mandarin fragrance spray and I have to say I really like it! The fragrance is light and smelled great. The spray is a wonderful pick -me-up for the house especially after the dog has gotten a hold of something that doesn't agree with his tummy. ;) I love the fact that the fragrance bottle is refillable! 

The oil diffuser has a contemporary design and blends well with just about any decor. I chose the
 Pineapple & Mangosteen scent. It too was light and had a wonderful fragrance. At first I couldn't smell it throughout the house but after a few days the smell did travel.  My house sometimes has a tendency to not smell so fresh (I blame the dog, Hubby J, and the 6 year old Rock Star Prince) For the three weeks plus I have been using the Glade Expressions® oil diffuser I have yet to be hit with a musty smell when I enter my home.
The  Glade Expressions® Collection has an array of fragrances. You may purchase the collection at most grocery stores and mass retailers, as well as in some drug stores. You may also purchase online at www.glade.com 

As a BuzzAgent in the Glade Expressions® Collection BzzCampaign  I was given coupons to use for myself and to share.

~thatmommygirl~

 

 

 

COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and Pressed Powder Review

As a BzzAgent I was given the opportunity to to try out COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and  Pressed Powder. I love the COVERGIRL Makeup that I use regularly but it does lack in full coverage of the dark circles around my eyes and my red blotchy skin. SO I thought I would give it a try. 

I do have problems with a week or so of breakouts when I try new makeup. I have LUPUS, my skin is just real sensitive and I know that will happen. After the breakout period I notice how tone and smooth my skin was starting to look. As you can see in the before and after pictures below my skin looks firmer and the blotches are all evened out. The dark circles are still a bit visible but it is real hard to cover those up completely on me. My family and friend seven noticed! I was asked a few times what I was using for my skin because it looks so much healthier. Of course I had to brag a bit on COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and  Pressed Powder.

It takes me a while to get use to a new makeup so I don't like to change very often but I will be making the switch to COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1!

As a BuzzAgent in the COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and  Pressed Powder BzzCampaign  I was given full size samples and coupons to use for myself and to share.

~thatmommygirl~