Keep Momming

**Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Shire. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

As an actress, a public health advocate and former journalist, Holly Robinson Peete has seen it all. And as a mother of four, she’s encountered just about every parenting challenge you can imagine. One of her biggest challenges as mom is building and maintaining a close relationship with her teenage daughter, Ryan.

The mother-daughter relationship is a unique one, and that dynamic can be even trickier during the tween years. Yet sometimes, people dismiss certain behaviors as “typical tween girl behavior” when those behaviors can be symptoms of something more serious. Research suggests that girls are more likely than boys to report having mostly inattentive Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Since inattentive symptoms can be less noticeable than hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, it is important that moms know what to look for.

I’m proud to be joining forces with Shire, CHADD and Holly Robinson Peete to announce the launch of keep momming, a new public service initiative geared towards the moms of tween girls to raise awareness of ADHD.

The campaign is anchored within a new digital hub, KeepMomming.com, where you’ll find tips, tools and other go-to resources for moms, including a checklist to help recognize the symptoms of ADHD – inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity – and then encourages moms to talk to their daughter’s doctor. The keep momming initiative can help moms learn about ADHD and provide ideas on how to spark a conversation and stay connected with their tween.

Don’t miss Holly’s message about the keep momming initiative http://goo.gl/Uayao5, and be sure to check out the website at KeepMomming.com.

Red Baron Deep Dish Mini Pizzas

**Disclosure:  No compensation was received for this post.  We were send coupons for free product to help facilitate the review.  All opinions are of our own, your opinion may vary.

Pizza!  Have to admit, that pizza is a staple in our home.  Totally one of our favorite meals!   If it's deep dish, that's even better! I enjoy a good, thick crust.  Frozen pizza is always good to have on hand, especially here in Vegas, when the heat goes over 100 and you just don't want to open the front door.  Now, with the help of Red Baron, we can enjoy a single size deep dish anytime and with the perfect serving amount so you don't go overboard!  Red Baron Deep Dish Minis is an easy to share pizza with full-sized flavor for the entire family.  This new product will feature eight 2.5 inch pizzas per package so you can effortlessly make a single serving for a tasty snack or the entire batch for you and a friend! My kids loved this!  Just the right amount of sauce and cheese and really is loaded with pepperoni!  Cooked quick & easy in the microwave too!  The nice thing about cooking in the microwave is that you can cook it to your liking.  My son likes his when the cheese is just melted.  I enjoy cooking mine a little longer to get more of a crisp taste.

It's available in cheese and pepperoni and made with the finest ingredients, including rich tomato sauce, loads of pepperoni and 100 percent real cheese.  Red Baron Deep Dish Minis can be found in freezer aisles at local grocers and retail for $3.50 a package. 

Bugervention

**Disclosure:  This is a paid feature in partnership with Modern Mom.  All opinions and recipe that I used to create my personal burgers are of my own. 

Our family absolutely loves to BBQ!! In fact, living on the West Coast we have the advantage of being able to grill year round.  With a busy family like ours, what is easier than a grilled burger!  But we don't always want the same burger time after time.  So this summer, just in time for the 4th of July holiday, Best Foods is staging a "Bugervention," putting an end to dry burgers across America. 

To create the Best Ever Juicy Burger this summer, mix Best Foods Real Mayonnaise directly into the ground beef when preparing your burgers.  The mayonnaise helps to lock in moisture as the burger cooks on the grill, ensuring a juicy, delicious burger every time!   Opt for great ingredients in your burger like Best Foods, which is committed to cage free eggs, quality oils and vinegar.

Never thought of adding mayonnaise to your ground beef? Either did I!  Check out their recipe below to help guide you!  I also have my personal additions I added below, my burgers came out juicy and oh so tasty! 

Best Ever Juicy Burgers

1/2 cup Best Foods Mayonnaise
1/2 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix
2 lbs ground beef (or ground turkey)
8 hamburger buns

1) Combine mayonnaise, soup mix and dry bread crumbs in small bowl
2) Mix mayonnaise mixture into ground beef & shape into 8 patties
3) Grill until done, then serve on buns

*** My personal twist on the above recipe *** 

I like to experiment when it comes to cooking! I love meat and so does my husband, so we eat it quite often.  Having it so often, we try to come up with different variations.  Below is my personal twist on the above recipe.

1/4 cup Best Foods Mayonnaise
2 T worcestershire sauce
1/2 onion chopped up into small pieces
3-4 slices of pre-cooked bacon - crumbled into pieces
1 lb ground beef
4 hamburger buns

1) Mix mayonnaise, worcestershire sauce, chopped onion, bacon pieces into ground beef
2) Grill on pre-heated grill
3) Place on buns and enjoy!

Visit www.bestfoods.com or tweet @BestFoods #Burgervention for recipes & tips to make the Best Ever Juicy Burger for family & friends this summer!

Movie Monday - HOME!

20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation have just released the first trailer for their highly anticipated film, HOME! Get intergalactic when this 3D comedy, featuring the voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin, and Jennifer Lopez, hits the big screen on March 27, 2015!

DREAMWORKSTV LAUNCHES ON YOUTUBE

Shrek is one of our families favorite! Now you can see him, Puss in Boots and the Kung Fu Panda while they join YouTube’s talent roster of A-list vloggers with today’s launch of DreamWorksTV, an original content destination for families on YouTube with the promise of delivering dreams and laughs on every screen.

DreamWorksTV combines DreamWorks Animation’s expertise as a global family entertainment brand with the digital savvy of AwesomenessTV, the fastest growing online destination for teens, which DreamWorks acquired a year ago.  

DreamWorksTV will showcase original live-action and animated short-form content that is laugh-out-loud funny, featuring fresh new voices and iconic characters.  Series highlights include family-friendly versions of reality TV (Prank My Parents, Record Setter Kids), original animated web series from top creators (Jimmy Blue Shorts, Gorillaville and Report Card) as well as vlog posts from DreamWorks’ stable of fan favorite characters.  Richie Rich, an original scripted series based on the iconic comic book character, will also make its debut this summer.

 

“DreamWorksTV is committed to delivering original content, from scripted live-action series based on great characters like Richie Rich, to fresh new animated characters like Jimmy Blue Shorts to vlogs and other short-form content featuring the much beloved Shrek, Po and Puss in Boots,” said Robbins. “We are combining the DreamWorks brand with lessons learned from AwesomenessTV to create content that will be embraced by families everywhere.”

Among the series that will be featured on DreamWorksTV are:

Live Action:

• OMG – A live-action sketch comedy series featuring up and coming kid comedians.
• Record Setter Kids – Hosted by YouTube star JennXPenn, features kids from all  over the country who come up with wacky records to break.
• Prank My Parents – Kids get a chance to play tricks on their parents in this fun hidden-camera series where kids make all the rules.

Animation:

• Jimmy Blue Shorts – This animated sketch comedy created by Zach Aufdemberg and produced by Oddbot is hosted by talking jean shorts.
• Gorillaville – This punny slapstick comedy by Ron Yavnieli centers around three gorillas who wreak havoc, perpetually disturbing the peace in their otherwise idyllic wildlife preserve.
• Report Card – “Let’s get newsie” with a top flight anchor team of cardboard cut-ups in a stop-motion series created by Jimbo Matison.
• Public Pool – Everything happens at the Puddleton Public Pool. Teenagers!  Musclemen!  Wimps!  Inflatable Rafts!  Bad Swimwear! It’s all fodder for fun in this irreverent ensemble comedy by David Fremont (Liquid TV).
• Fifi Cat Therapist – Have a seat on the couch and tell all to Fifi, cat therapist extraordinaire.  This sassy house-cat tells it like it is to neighborhood animals seeking advice in this animated comedy by Mike Blum (Lilo & Stitch).

Additional series include Watch This, curated “best-of-the web” shorts, as well as RetroToons, highlights from the Classic Media library.  New original series will be launched throughout the summer as well!

Superman Hall of Heroes

**Disclosure:  No monetary compensation was received for this feature.  The below kit was provided at no cost.  Just a cute idea for your Superhero!  

 Is your husband like mine and thinks he's Superman? My children sure believe him! Ever since they were small he use to stand on his toes and the kids would think he was levitating.  He is Superman to them.  He fixes things when they need fixed, he's a super cook, he builds, disciplines, works hard for our family, always puts us first and is someone the kids can look up to.   The Superman Hall of Heroes website is an online gift-giving portal that empowers consumers to honor their personal heroes - those who have made a positive impact on their lives or the lives of others.

 Inspired by Superman and the character attributes that define the world's first and most recognized Super Hero - unwavering morals and an endless pursuit of truth and justice, the Superman Hall of Heroes site offers a fun and inspirational way for fans to pay tribute to their heroes by submitting their photo and story online to www.SupermanHallofHeroes.com. As a tribute, you can choose from multiple gift giving options and levels.  Above are some of the items you can purchase.  ((Use the code MYHERO to get a FREE Level One induction of your Hero)) Through Father's Day, a portion of the proceeds from sales of Superman Hall of Heroes packages will go to The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.   

Save at Wet 'n' Wild Las Vegas

**Disclosure:  This feature is in partnership with USFamilyGuide.com and Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas.  In exchange for posting, our family will be admitted free of charge to experience the park.  No monentary compensation will be received.  

Live in Vegas?  Then you are def feeling me!!  We have something special for you to help you save tryingto stay cool this summer!  One of the world's most iconic water park brands, Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas is Nevada's premier water park and a top Las Vegas family destination with more than 25 slides and attractions for thrill seekers and families to create lasting memories. For the daring, the park features the new Tornado, the world's leading funnel slide catapulting riders to a zero gravity experience; the extreme Rattler, a North American first, and Constrictor, featuring some of the tightest turns; and other fast, steep and twisting slides. For families and those desiring a more relaxing experience, there's Paradise Falls, the interactive children's area with kid friendly slides, a giant dumping bucket and warmer water; Colorado Cooler lazy river; and Red Rock Bay wave pool. Great amenities include shaded areas, private cabanas and misting.

Save $5 at wetnwildlasvegas.com use code "USFAM5" CLICK HERE!!