Adventures of a Midlife Mommy

Win a Trip to Paris from World Market in "The Hundred Foot Journey" Sweepstakes #GourmetGetaway

07/29/2014

DISCLAIMER: I am a World Market Trendsetter and I was provided with complimentary gift cards to facilitate this post.

Have you ever thought of leaving everything and everyone you knew, for a brand new start? Maybe you had to, due to circumstances beyond your control. That's exactly what happens in the new Disney movie, "The Hundred Foot Journey" due out in US theaters on August 8th.

In “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal) is a culinary ingénue with the gastronomic equivalent of perfect pitch. Displaced from their native India, the Kadam family, led by Papa (Om Puri), settles in the quaint village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in the south of France. Filled with charm, it is both picturesque and elegant – the ideal place to settle down and open an Indian restaurant, Maison Mumbai. That is, until the chilly chef proprietress of Le Saule Pleureur, a Michelin-starred, classical French restaurant run by Madame Mallory (Academy Award®-winner Helen Mirren) gets wind of it.

To celebrate World Market’s Gourmet promotion and the theatrical release of "The Hundred-Foot Journey", Cost Plus World Market has partnered with celebrity chefs, Ryan Scott (Restaurateur & Host of Food Rush) and Aarti Sequeira (Author & Host of Aarti Party), to create delicious recipes inspired by the film. The chefs have developed exclusive French and Indian recipes featuring World Market’s gourmet offerings.

From sweet to savory and everything in between, Chefs Ryan and Aarti have really outdone themselves with these "The Hundred Foot Journey" inspired recipes, using World Market products. Here are a few of my faves. . .

Orange-Chocolate Almond-Nougat Champagne Trifle

Click picture for full recipe

Click picture for full recipe.

Berry Ricotta Crepe Layer Cake

Click picture for full recipe.

Chicken Roulade Provencale with Whole Grain Mustard Bernaise Sauce

If all those yummy French inspired recipes have you suddenly wanting to say "Au Revoir" to the dull-drums of everyday life, head over to World Market's "The Hundred Foot Journey" Sweepstakes, where you have the chance to win the Grand Prize of a trip for 2 to Paris courtesy of Delta Vacations ®, Dinner at the Eiffel Tower and Cruise, City excursions, One day private cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and a $1,000 World Market gift card.

Plus, 3 First Prizes winners will receive a $500 World Market gift card. Hurry and get your entries in NOW, the Sweepstakes ends August, 15th, 2014.

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Keep Summer Fun Alive with New Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum #shop #juicyfruitfunside #cbias

07/24/2014

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Unfortunately, the first day of school is creeping up on us & Summer is slowly winding down, so I am trying to squeeze in as much fun as I can, before the dull-drums of good ol' school days set in. Lucky for me, I got a little help from these new goodies from Juicy Fruit, but let me warn you, these new arrivals are definitely not your Mama's Juicy Fruit.

New Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum #juicyfruitfunside #shop

Say "Goodbye" to the stick and say "Hello" to the awesome, bubble blowing power of the new Sweet Strawberry Bubble Gum from Juicy Fruit. This ample sized piece of Strawberry goodness is the perfect size for blowing big, strong bubbles...kind of. OK, let me rephrase that, as long as you aren't a novice, it's perfect for blowing bubbles.
(Note to self: Get Dad to teach the little one to blow bubbles, I quit.)

Micah trying to blow bubbles #juicyfruuitfunside #shop

Bless his heart, he tried blowing a bubble for at least fifteen minutes, before he accidentally spit it out onto the ground. After that fiasco, I decided to let him stick with the smaller pieces of the original flavor Juicy Fruit Fruity Chews which come in a handy dandy 40 ct easy to share bottle, that you can find at your local Walmart store, right beside the register.
(Sweet Strawberry is also available in the smaller fruity chews size)

How we keep summer alive #juicyfruitfunside #shop

With all of the kids home this Summer and their vastly varying ages (almost 20, almost 17 and almost 4), sometimes it can be kind of hard to make everyone happy at the same time, but I have a few "standbys" that usually do the trick. Here are a few of my faves. . .

The backyard pool is an easy, foolproof way to keep kids of all ages entertained and out of your hair for quite a while. Of course, you'll have to supervise them, but you could always take a book or crocheting (yes, I am 108 years old and I like to crochet, sue me) or other project outside with you to pass the time. Even if your funds or space are limited, you can still find a small, blow-up or rigid plastic pool to do the trick or if all else fails, turn on the hose and let the kids run through it. (But not for long, water is super expensive) On second thought, maybe just make the kids stand in the garden, while you water it. Pretend it's a game.

The tan lines will fade, the memories will not #juicyfruitfunside #shop

I'm not quite sure where it originated from, but apparently backyard yoga is now Micah's "new thing". Hey, it's harmless, good for his health and (most importantly) it gets him outside to play, instead of being cooped up in the house. Yoga on, Sweet Boy, yoga on. So far, he's only mastered downward facing dog, but, I look for him to add new poses to his repertoire any day.

Micah doing Backyard Yoga #huicyfruitfunside #shop

Get lost in your hometown #juicyfruitfunside #shop

Sometimes, you just have to branch out of the backyard and for those times, I suggest getting lost in your own hometown. Become a tourist and go explore your city or one close to you. We do this all the time and it never fails, I always see something I have never seen before or we find a new little sushi place we didn't know about before or at the very least, we make a new memory or two with the kids, just driving around town, cuttin' up laughing at the real tourists or dad's fart noises.

Regardless of what you do, remember, life is short and so is Summer, so, get out, whether it be in your backyard or your backseat and make some new memories with your family.

Downtown Nashville, TN

Grab a pack of Juicy Fruit Bubble Gum and head out to find your #juicyfruitfunside at your local Walmart, where there will be live tasting events on July 25 through the 27th (this weekend) from 11 am to 4:00 p.m. and again on August 1st through the 3rd, next Friday and Saturday from 11 to 4 and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00.
Big thanks to #collectivebias for this fun opportunity.

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Gear Up for Back to School with Zulily #BTS

07/24/2014

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Get Two FREE Music Downloads From Your Favorite "The Voice" Performer

07/23/2014

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DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored post, written by me, on behalf of Global Influence. All opinions are my own.

A couple of years ago, my brother in law called to tell me he was going to audition for "The Voice" and instead of being ecstatic for him or offer him a few words of encouragement, my only response was, "Can you get me Adam Levine's home number, please and thank you?!". What? What should I have said?! If someone you know is going to be in the same room with Adam Levine, it would be un-American to not ask for his number or at the very least, a lock of his hair.

Needless to say, I didn't get Adam's number or the lock of his hair, but Josh did audition for the voice. He didn't make it, but it was an experience he'll never forget and the order of protection against me should be lifted any day now. (kidding)

I have been a huge fan of "The Voice" since season two when I first saw Melanie Martinez. Oh my God, that girl's voice just sends chills down my spine. Her voice has all the depth and soul of any performer I have ever heard and she was only 17 during the filming of the show. Here's the one that totally clenched it for me. . .

Unfortunately, my girl, Melanie didn't win, but she got really close and she has since gone on to release an album, an amazing one, might I add. "The Voice" is a really fun show, from the comedic interactions between Adam and Blake or the crazy get ups that C-Lo wears to the awesome voices that are showcased each week. The voice is soon to be in its 7th season and I can hardly wait to see the new crop of talent.

While we are waiting for the new season of "The Voice" to begin, on September 22nd, you can score 2 FREE music downloads from your favorite "The Voice" artist, when you buy any Clear Scalp & Hair product from Rite Aid through July 31st.

Hit a high note and let your hair shine! CLEAR SCALP & HAIR THERAPY™ will give you the confidences you need to feel, look and perform at your best! CLEAR SCALP & HAIR THERAPY™ makes your hair beautiful and resilient by deeply nourishing your scalp. So head into Rite Aid and find the CLEAR SCALP & HAIR THERAPY™ product that is right for you.

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Help a Child with Walgreens' Get a Shot #GiveaShot Program. #cbias #shop

07/21/2014

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I remember it like it was yesterday. The chairs in the office were cold, plastic and unwelcoming. There were screams of torture coming from the back room. The smell of alcohol permeated the air. I sat, clenching my Mom's hand tightly. The clocked ticked so loudly as I sat, waiting to hear my name called, from behind the big, wooden door. My heart raced. I looked left & right for a way out, but there wasn't one. There was no escape. It was going down. I was about to get my very first set of required vaccines for kindergarten.

Me in kindergarten Get a Shot, #GiveaShot with Walgreens

O.K., maybe it wasn't quite that bad, but it sure felt like it. I vividly remember yearly trips to the Doctor being some of the most scary times in my young life. I'm not sure if it was the fear of the actual shot or just the anxiety of the entire event, that really got me, but I do know that my mom did the best she could, to try to allay my fears. Even though I was still terrified, it felt nice to know she was close by and it felt even better to know she was gonna stop and get me some ice cream on the way home.

If your little one is a bit "Doctor shy" here are a few tips that might help. . .

Tips to cr child's fears about school immunizations

Required immunizations might not be the most exciting thing in the world, to a kid, but, for a limited time, when you get a shot, Walgreens will #GiveaShot to a child in a developing country through the United Nations Foundation's, "Shot@Life" campaign.

You don't need an appointment, most insurances are accepted and Walgreen's pharmacists will even forward the records to your PCP.

While shots definitely aren't fun, they are sometimes necessary. So, why not make a difference to an underprivileged child, while taking care of your own child's health at the same time.

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Pee-wee's Playhouse Complete Series on DVD Coming 10/21

07/16/2014

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DISCLOSURE: I was not compensated for this post, in any way.

OK, so I got an email this morning that I am way more excited about, than I will admit to, in a public forum. It brought up so many awesome memories of Saturday mornings, watching Pee-wee's Playhouse, while I was supposed to be doing my chores.

Somehow, I was always able to "in a minute, Mom" my way through the whole show. I am super excited to be able to introduce Micah to the awesomeness that is, Pee-wee Herman and you can own a copy of your very own, October 21st.

Pee-wee's Playhouse complete series on DVD 10-21

(Taken from Press Release). . . "Winner of an amazing 22 Emmy® Awards, Pee-wee's Playhouse is a cultural touchstone for a generation and for the first time in beautiful high-defnition, Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Complete Series is arriving in a highly anticipated 8-Disc Blu-ray™ Box Set October 21st from Shout! Factory!

Scream along to the secret word with Pee-wee Herman and pals in 45 wildly entertaining episodes meticulously remastered, including Pee-wee's Christmas Special. Fans and readers can pre-order Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Complete Series Blu-ray™ box set now at: Amazon or if you want to get it two weeks early, you can order through this link, for FREE standard shipping, two weeks early.

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Join Me at the Direct Auto DOTS Kiosk Launch Event in Nashville on July 19th at Rivergate Mall for Your Chance to Win Gift Cards and Other Cool Swag

07/14/2014

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It doesn't take a "rocket surgeon" to know, shopping for car insurance is definitely not the most exciting thing to do. It usually takes forever and sometimes the customer service reps aren't all that pleasant to talk to.

When polled, 9 out of 10 people said they would rather jump from a moving vehicle, at a high rate of speed than shop for insurance.

O.K., so maybe there was no poll, but I am pretty sure it could be proven that shopping for auto insurance ranks pretty low on the list of things you want to do on your day off, but it doesn't have to anymore. Direct Auto Insurance is unveiling a revolutionary new way to shop for insurance.

The Direct Auto DOTS (Direct On The Spot) Kiosk, with its 15 Nashville locations, including supermarkets, malls, laundromats, car dealerships, and other third-party locations, is an innovative insurance delivery system that provides you a whole new shopping experience.

Within seconds, you can have a quote for a Direct car insurance policy, roadside assistance plan, life insurance policy, or an emergency protection plan and receive proof of insurance, on the spot.

Technology is so cool, right, but what if you are like me and have a million questions?! At any stage of the process, you can pick up the handy-dandy handset to contact an agent with any questions or concerns.

So, what if you are just shopping around and you only want a quote, that's cool too, save the quote, print it out and when you are ready to purchase, take the quote to yourlocal Direct Auto office.

Not only can you get FREE insurance quotes in seconds, you can also purchase the policy, right then and there and after your policy is active, you can conveniently pay your monthly bill at the Kiosk, with cash, credit or debit.

In celebration of the launch of the new Direct Auto DOTS kiosk, you are cordially invited to come out to Rivergate Mall (between JC Penny's and Gloria Jean Coffee), to see what all the buzz is about, on Saturday, July 19th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and for a limited time, any legally licensed TN driver will receive a $10 Walmart gift card, just for getting a quote. . . SCORE!

There will be a JJ Hightail look-alike for some fun pics, tons of cool Direct Auto swag, T shirts, can Koozies, hats, bracelets and a Grand Prize sweepstakes to win one of four $250 Walmart gift cards and I will be there, handing out some cool swag and goodies, as well. If you are in the area, I'd love to meet you and show you why shopping for insurance doesn't have to be an all day ordeal and with the time you saved, maybe you could go do one of these cool things. . . .