January 2015 - Over The Top Mommy

Month: January 2015

Celebrate This Valentine’s Day With M&M’s® Red Velvet and Chocolate Pie Pops!

January 30, 2015 / Celebrations, Food, Holiday Fun, Recipes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RedVelvetLove #CollectiveBias

Valentine’s Day is my absolute favorite holiday of the year! It always seems like everyone is happy and you can feel the love and friendship in the air! I loved it as a little girl, I love it as a 1st grade teacher and I love it as a mom, especially as a “girl mom”. My daughter embraces my need to be “that mom”! You know, the one who always sends something cute for the class on just about every holiday? (OK maybe I don’t on Groundhog Day)

This year, my daughter will be bringing the cutest & yummiest treats to school for her classmates at their Valentine’s celebration. I’m sending M&M’s® Red Velvet and chocolate pie pops! Yep, you read that correctly! M&M’s® Red Velvet exist!

If you’re as excited to try them as I was when I first saw them, then you should make a quick trip out to Walmart today to grab a bag of your own!

The M&M’s® Red Velvet are so delicious in this recipe. These pie pops definitely have a cute factor about them! They are honestly so easy to make! I like that it’s a kid-friendly recipe too because my daughter loves to spend time with me in the kitchen.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

1 box of store-bought pie crust (they usually come 2 in a box)
1 jar of chocolate spread of your choice
1 bag M&M’s® Red Velvet
1 egg, just the egg white
flour (to spread out on the counter)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees
Lightly flour countertop and roll out pie crust. Use a large biscuit cutter to cut out pairs of circles.
Use small heart cookie cutter to cut out one heart for each pop that you’re making.
Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set bottom circle pieces on cookie sheet, leaving ample space between each one.
Gently push a lollipop stick into the center of each pie circle.
Spoon in some of the chocolate spread into the center of each pop. Don’t use too much to avoid it squeezing out.
Place 3 M&M’s® Red Velvet candies on top of the chocolate spread.
Set top circle of dough on top and lightly push edges together with your fingers.
Use the end of a lollipop stick to seal edges of entire pie pop.
Brush each pie pop lightly with egg white. Place hearts on each pop and brush egg white on them as well.
Place into oven and bake for 9-12 minutes, keeping a close eye on them so they don’t burn.
When they’re golden brown, remove them from the oven and allow to cool.

You will most likely be overwhelmed by how amazing they smell to the point where you’ll want to bite right into one as it’s coming out of the oven! Allow them to cool down for at least 5 minutes.

For Valentine’s Day, I’m going to wrap each pie pop in a plastic bag, add some M&M’s® Milk Chocolate candies inside the bag, and tie it up with colorful tulle. The M&M’s® almost look like confetti inside the bag, don’t you think?

I found everything I needed to make this recipe at Walmart, which makes it so easy for a busy mom like me!

Do YOU love Valentine’s Day as much as I do? What’s YOUR favorite way to celebrate friendship and love on Valentine’s Day?

For more M&M’s® Red Velvet inspiration, be sure to visit the Red Velvet Love Recipes page. Join the #RedVelvetLove Pinterest Party taking place at http://www.pinterest.com/SoFabChats/ on Saturday, January 31 at 12:00pm ET for your chance at winning a $1000 Walmart gift card!
See more great M&M’s® Red Velvet recipe and party ideas at myconfectioncorner.com/valentines-day where you can also download a coupon to save on your M&M’s® purchase.

McCafé Is This Mom’s “Happiness in a Cup”!

January 30, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!, Lifestyle, Motherhood

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #McCafeMyWay #CollectiveBias

As a busy mom, I look forward to mornings when I can enjoy a little bit of “me time”. It’s the only time of day where my house is calm and quiet and everyone else is asleep. With a nice, warm cup of home-brewed McCafé coffee in hand, I can relax before all of the rushing around begins. I’ve learned the importance of carving out some time for myself each day. It’s what gets me through a very busy daily schedule. Seriously, take a look at my daily routine! If I don’t grab some time for myself in the wee hours of the morning, it’s just never going to happen!

I get excited when my alarm goes off, even if it’s 4:30 a.m.! I set the timer on the coffee maker the night before so I can wake to the smell of freshly brewed McCafé coffee downstairs. I’ve actually learned to love getting up this early because you accomplish a lot more.

McCafé is now available at Walmart. It’s made with 100% Arabica beans and is harvested from the rich soils and mountainous regions of the foremost coffee-growing areas of the world.

McCafé coffee also comes in coffee pods, which can be brewed in your home brewing system. I have both a traditional coffee pot AND a home brewing machine in my kitchen and love the convenience of having flexible brewing options with McCafé.

During one of my recent shopping trips at my local Walmart there was an in-store McCafé demo going on. I got to sample some of the different flavors. I think the Breakfast Blend & the Premium Roast are 2 of my favorites!

Let’s get back to talking about my morning “me time”. I like to enjoy my McCafé with toast or even some freshly baked muffins. You have to treat yourself sometimes and honestly, it makes my day go much smoother. I sometimes even get a few minutes to sit out on my back balcony, in my robe, and drink a cup at sunrise. (or when it’s cloudy like in this picture). It’s very peaceful. I can sometimes even see the beach from my balcony. McCafé is this mom’s “happiness in a cup”!

It was easy to find the McCafé coffee pods on the coffee aisle at Walmart. I found the Premium bags of coffee on the end of an aisle.

Well, I’ve let you take a peek into my morning routine and told you about how great McCafé is at helping make my day run smoothly. Do YOU make time for yourself each day? If so, how? If not, I think you need to start doing so today!

For recipe inspiration, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons and more, check out the Cooking Up Good website. What’s not to love? If you’re looking for a new dinner idea or a chance to win some awesome prizes, be sure to check it out!

Doc McStuffins: Cuddle Me Lambie! on DVD February 3! Free Printable Coloring and Activity Sheets! (I’m giving away 2 DVDs)

January 28, 2015 / Disney DVDs, Entertainment, Movies

No one gives better cuddles than Doc’s warm and fuzzy best friend! She’s a princess and a ballerina, and she’s always there for toys that need an extra helping of tender loving care. Just say three little words: “Cuddle Me Lambie.”

We LOVE Doc McStuffins in our home! She’s adorable and I love watching the diagnosis’ that she comes up with for the animals! I also adore the Big Book of Boos Boos so much that we have one of our own!

On February 3rd, Disney Jr. Home Entertainment will release the newest “DOC MCSTUFFINS: CUDDLE ME LAMBIE.” Join Doc and the whole gang as they laugh, play and have a ball fixing boo-boos and discovering great ways to stay happy and healthy. Celebrate the power of true friendship as new, sparkly heart toy Val shows Lambie there’s plenty of love to go around. Meet Donny and Alma’s monster creation Charlie – who turns out to be very sweet and not scary after all. Then, see how Lambie gets out of a super-sticky jam! Bursting with five song-filled episodes and cuddles galore, this “hug-stravaganza” is magical fun your little one will adore!

Check out these adorable free printable coloring and activity sheets! Just click and print out for your little one!

To celebrate the release of this adorable DVD, I’ve also been provided with 2 copies of it to give away to two of my readers! They’ll each come with a poster too! How fun is that? Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below! Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Voyage to the Iron Reef Surfacing on 5/5/15 at Knott’s!

January 27, 2015 / Uncategorized

When I heard Knott’s announce 5/5/15 as the opening date for their newest ride, Voyage to the Iron Reef, I screamed in excitement! Literally! I knew it was something I wanted to share with everyone! Voyage to the Iron Reef is a spectacular new 4-D interactive ride. Ever since construction crews finished expanding the Boardwalk pier in 2013, guests have happily enjoyed the many new attractions like Coast Rider and Surfside Gliders. But all that activity on the Boardwalk shores has reawakened a mystic lair in the depths below, filled with creatures who have risen up to wreak havoc on the classic So Cal theme park.

Get ready to grab a freeze ray and join the battle to save Knott’s from the mysterious creatures that are emerging from the waters beneath the Boardwalk! Catch your first glimpse of the hundreds-strong aquatic army threatening Knott’s in this exclusive teaser video.

The Kraken Queen and her aquatic army have surfaced to feed on the steel of any attraction within their grasps. Their unquenchable appetite for coaster metal has turned these creatures into swimming mechanical monsters unlike anything ever before seen on the ocean floor. Only you can save Knott’s from the mysterious creatures that are emerging from the seas beneath the Boardwalk!

After seeing all of these sneak peek pictures and watching the video, I’m even more anxious for May 15th to get here. For project updates and park information, visit knotts.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smart phone. Join the conversation about the new attraction using the hashtag #KnottsIronReef on the Knott’s Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram!

*image credits: Knott’s

Cristophe Salon Newport Beach To Host A Valentine’s Day Beauty Prep Celebration + Kendra Scott Jewelry Giveaway

January 27, 2015 / Beauty & Pampering, Lifestyle, Orange County

Cristophe Salon Newport Beach, Orange County’s top beauty destination known for its five-star customer service, is partnering with Dr. Rami K. Batniji, a Newport Beach facial plastic surgeon, Kendra Scott Jewelry and Blushington Makeup and Beauty Lounge in Fashion Island to host a Valentine’s Day Prep Party.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, guests are invited to Cristophe Salon Newport Beach at Fashion Island® from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to enjoy indulgent treatments, such as hair, nail, makeup and waxing services, before a romantic date night or a girls’ night out. With music spinning throughout the day, guests will be offered complimentary champagne to sip on throughout their experience. The first 100 guests to schedule an appointment or book a service on Valentine’s Day will receive a complimentary gift card for a pre-selected Kendra Scott jewelry item, to be redeemed at the jeweler’s Fashion Island boutique.

Kendra Scott Jewelry will also be for sale on Valentine’s Day between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Cristophe Salon Newport Beach. Five percent of all sales from the evening’s purchased services will directly benefit Yachts for Tots, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing underprivileged children to the beauty of the ocean.

Valentine’s Day Prep Party on-site specialty services and packages include:

Hair, Nail and Waxing Services

Hair style consultation with Scott Fontana: complimentary for all new clients to determine the best cut and color for their individual skin tones and facial structures
Hair cut: $90 and up
Hair color: $85 and up
Hair blowout: $65
Manicure: $30
Full Face Make-up services: $45
Just Eyes Make-up services: $30
Waxing, eyebrow and eyelash tinting services: $15 and up

In the two weeks leading up to the special event, pre-booked Valentine’s Day Prep Party guests may receive specially priced BOTOX® and skincare services with premiere Orange County facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Batniji at his Newport Beach office.

Skin Services with Dr. Batniji, offered exclusively in partnership with Cristophe Salon Newport Beach’s Valentine’s Day Prep Party:

Refresh package: $400 ($514 value)

SkinMedica® TNS Essential Serum

SkinMedica® Dermal Repair Cream

SkinMedica® Illuminize Peel

Revitalize package: $450 ($590 value)

20 units of BOTOX®

SkinMedica® TNS Essential Serum

SkinMedica® Illuminize Peel

Renew package: $900 ($1,090 value)

20 units of BOTOX®

1 syringe of Juvederm® Ultra Plus*

SkinMedica® TNS Essential Serum

SkinMedica® Illuminize Peel

Latisse®: $200 ($300 value)

2 boxes of Latisse®

Appointments are required to guarantee services, as space is limited. Please call (949) 219-0920 for all appointment bookings.

For more information about Cristophe Salon Newport Beach and its exceptional team of colorists and stylists, service offerings, or to book an appointment please visit http://www.CristopheNB.com or call (949) 219-0920. In addition, in the two weeks leading up to the special event, pre-booked Valentine’s Day Prep Party guests may receive specially priced BOTOX® and skincare services with premiere Orange County facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Batniji, at his Newport Beach office. 5% of all proceeds from the event will be donated to Yachts for Tots, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to introducing underprivileged children to the majesty of the ocean.

I’m also having a giveaway for one of my lucky readers. If you win, you’ll have a choice of one of the following beautiful jewelry pieces: a Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace, a pair of Danielle Earrings, or a pair of Elle Earrings. Just enter down below on the Rafflecopter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Score Big on Game Day with Cheez-It and Chocolate Dipped “Football” Strawberries!

January 26, 2015 / Celebrations, Food, Parties, Recipes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are 100% my own. #BigGameSnacks #CollectiveBias

The Big Game Day is approaching quickly! It’s almost party time! I’m going to let you in on a little secret here…I don’t really worry about who’s playing in the game or who even wins it! Don’t get me wrong, football is fun to watch and all, but my real priorities on that day usually include:

watching the hilarious commercials
catching up on the latest gossip with my girlfriends who come to our Big Game Day party
enjoying lots of good food at the party

Hey, I know what’s important! I love any excuse to throw a party that involves food and this is one occasion that requires some major snacks! We usually order pizza or cook up some hamburgers at half-time so I like to set out simple types of things on the food table such as veggies, popcorn, chips & dips and some sweets for guests to grab during the game.

When I was out shopping for our Big Game Day party, I picked up a box of Original Cheddar Cheez-It Grooves crackers and a bag of new Cheddar Cheese Cheez-It Crunch’d. As you can tell, we are big Cheez-It lovers in our house.

The Cheez-It Grooves definitely live up to the description on the box: best of Cheez-It and a chip in one!‘. Cheez-It is dedicated to using only 100% real cheese which is baked into every delicious cracker. I’m going to set them out next to some veggies and ranch dip for the party.

They are delicious!

I never knew the cheddar cheese Cheez-It Crunch’d existed! They’re new and just appeared on store shelves last week. Crunch’d is Cheez-It’s first-ever crunchy puff made with 100% real cheese. I was dying to try them immediately so I opened up the bag as soon as I got to the car! I’m not the only one who does that, right? They are so good by themselves! For our party I plan on throwing them into a big bowl along with mini pretzels, buttered popcorn and some chocolate candies. It requires very little time and is a great mix, combining the salty with the sweet in a bowl.

I like to put something into the bowl that guests can use as a scoop and set out cute little cups to scoop the mix into. This eliminates “little hands” in the bowl that everyone is taking from.

I’m a pretty big fan of sweets so I also decided to make these adorable chocolate dipped “football” strawberries for the table. They’re very simple to prepare and Emi even helped me do the white piping. (She did an awesome job!) I’d suggest making a double batch since they probably won’t last very long on the table.

Ingredients:

1 lb strawberries, rinsed and dried
1 bag of brown chocolate candy melts
1 bag of white candy melts
vegetable oil (you won’t need much)

Preparation:

Prepare your work area by putting some parchment paper down on the countertop. This is where the strawberries will be drying after they’re dipped.
Place the brown candy melts into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Take out and stir. (They won’t be very melted yet.) Heat for an additional 30 seconds and stir again. Add a tiny bit of vegetable oil to the bowl and mix in. The oil just helps to make your mixture a little bit smoother. Let the mixture settle for about a minute before starting to dip the strawberries.
Dip each strawberry into the bowl, slowly turning it by its stem. Then use a spoon to cover the strawberry with the chocolate up to a fairly high point, trying to stay even all the way around the strawberry. Remove from the bowl and set onto parchment paper to dry.
After the chocolate has completely dried (I stick mine into the fridge), prepare the white candy melts exactly like you did the chocolate ones. Transfer the white mixture into a piping bag (you can use a plastic sandwich bag) with the tiniest tip and pipe on the white football accents. If you make a mistake, you can quickly scrape off the white melt with a toothpick since it won’t be dry yet. Again, wait until thoroughly dry before serving.

It was really fun for my daughter to get in the kitchen and help me with these! She’s got a pretty stead hand for piping!

I found everything I needed to make my Big Game Snacks at Walmart! Both of the Cheez-It products were on the end of an aisle so I could just grab and toss them into my basket!

I think my snack table is all ready to go for the Big Game with all of the necessities! Can you think of anything I might be missing?

What are YOU most excited for on the day of the Big Game? Do YOU have any special recipes that you serve on that day?

Connect with Cheez-It on Facebook and Twitter too!

The Great Tater Creator at Farrell’s Starting February 1!

January 25, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!

Starting February 1st at all Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurant locations those sides of fries finally get the respect they deserve! Farrell’s kicks off The Great Tater Creator® program where guest will be able to create over 75.5 million different tater masterpieces to compliment the burger or sandwich they accompany. Using Farrell’s The Great Tater Creator card, guests will create their own tater masterpiece from four different tater choices, six sauces, 15 regular toppers, 4 premium toppers and six tater dunks.

Taters:

Fries
Potato Tots
Sweet Potato Fries
Waffle Fries

Pour-Ons:

Brown Gravy
Buffalo Sauce
Cheese Sauce
Farrell’s Chili
Farrell’s Sauce
Tangy Balsamic

Regular Toppers:

American Cheese
Anaheim Chilis
Bacon Crumbles
Black Olives
Bleu Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Chopped Onions
Crushed Garlic
Fresh Basil
Grilled Onions
Jalapeños
Parmesan Cheese
Pico de Gallo
Scallions
Sour Cream

Premium Toppers:

Fried Egg
Ground Beef
Guacamole
Sautéed Mushrooms with Truffle Oil

Tater Dunks:

BBQ Sauce
Bleu Cheese Dressing
Chipotle Sauce
Farrell’s Sauce
Honey Mustard
Ranch

The Great Tater Creator program starts at an additional $2.29 and can be added to any entree that comes with a side of fries. Available at all participating Farrell’s California and Hawaii locations.

Find Farrell’s on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Kids Can Have Fun in the Kitchen With Foodstirs’ Valentine’s Heart Tart Kit!

January 24, 2015 / Crafts & DIY, Food, Product Reviews, Uncategorized

We recently received an adorable box on our doorstep. It was this awesome Valentine’s Heart Tart Kit from Foodstirs. Have you heard of them? Foodstirs is a creative cooking experience for families that empowers kids to learn how to make homemade food. They offer uniquely designed food crafting kits filled with high-quality ingredients, recipes and specialty tools, delivered to your door. The culinary projects in theirs kits fill curious little chefs with confidence and “know-how” as they use valuable skills such as reading, counting and experimenting to create a tasty treat or meal to share.

I love to spend time in the kitchen with Emily. She’s always been eager to help me during cooking and baking. I want her to know how to cook. It’s such a valuable life skill. We decided to use the kit to make a batch of early Valentine’s Heart Tarts for some of her friends. The packaging is really cute and the only things you really need to provide are the refrigerated ingredients.

Each Valentine’s Heart Tart Kit contains:

Easy-to-follow Heart Tart recipe card (makes 12)
Ingredients
Heart cookie cutter
Popsicle sticks
Gift bags
Gift tags
Twine
Turkey and Cheese Tart recipe card
Bonus recipe: Homemade Jam!

The recipe cards included in each kit have illustrations and lists of what kids need to gather prior to starting their recipe. This is so handy. It’s much easier and more organized when you get all of the things you’re going to need, before starting.

I stood by and watched Emily follow the instructions, step by step. She emphasized her plan of doing most of the work for these, all by herself. I just told her I was standing by for emotional support. (I also assisted with cutting the butter into the recipe though)

Everything was really simple to mix together and she loved getting to use her hands in the bowl for mixing.

After taking a short break while the dough chilled in the refrigerator, Emily was excited to finally roll the dough out, cut the hearts, and start to fill them with her favorite strawberry jam! (next time we’re going to try filling them with a chocolate spread) I thought she did a great job scoring on the edges of the tarts with a fork.

She was SO excited when I took the baking pan out of the oven and her Valentine Heart Tarts were done! How cute did these turn out?

Our kit included goodie bags with baker’s twine, along with Valentine gift tags to package up each one for a friend. We also added hot pink tulle to one of the tarts for it’s photo debut! What do you think?

We had so much fun with our Valentine’s Heart Tart Kit from Foodstirs and can’t wait to make a batch of turkey and cheese tarts next! Each kit costs only $29.99 and includes FREE shipping. You can order kit and receive a $5 off with the discount code: HEARTS! What a perfect way to help your child(ren) cook up something special in time for Valentine’s Day!

Visit Foodstirs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach’s Prix Fixe Brunch Menu! Bring in the Whole Family to Enjoy Brunch!

January 22, 2015 / Food, Restaurant Reviews

Emily and I were recently invited to a Family Brunch Media Event to preview the Prix-Fixe Brunch menu at the beautiful Newport Beach location of FIG & OLIVE. The restaurant is located at Fashion Island.

Fig & Olive is currently offering a delicious French Riviera three-course Prix-Fixe brunch menu ($28*) on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. They also have a special kids’ meal promotion right now, which is available during brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests who order from FIG & OLIVE’s prix-fixe brunch menu will receive a complimentary meal from the kids’ menu (*one main course plus a soft drink per child; children 10 and under).

Emi enjoyed an Arnold Palmer while she browsed the kids’ menu

Pint-size foodies can choose from the following offerings:

¼ Roasted Chicken with Herbs de Provence, rosemary, garlic, lemon, and mashed potato
F&O Pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and basil
Chicken Fingers served with tomato basil dip and skinny fries
Fish Croquettes with lemon mayo
Penne Pasta with olive oil, cheese, or pesto

Love the presentation of the hot tea in this simple white pot!

Take a peek at the Prix-Fixe Brunch Menu.

There were so many delicious items to choose from. It was very difficult for me to narrow it down, but I finally did. I decided to start with the Fig & Olive Salad which was the most delightful combination of flavors in a salad.

I also indulged in some of the of bread & viennoiseries that were brought to the table. The strawberry jam was amazing on the baguette and Emi opted for the chocolate croissant without hesitation. But let’s get back to my Fig & Olive salad…

It was so fresh and yummy! I couldn’t get enough of the figs!

For an entree, I ordered the South of France Poached Eggs with Salmon while Emi ordered the Chicken Fingers served with marinara basil dip and skinny fries from the kids’ menu.

All of the food was just fabulous. I literally had to stop myself from eating because I wanted to save room for dessert. The FIG & OLIVE chefs don’t use butter or cream to cook with (except for the desserts) and everything is olive oil-based. I think this makes a huge difference in the way food tastes. Read about their line of olive oils here.

Our third course was dessert! I think that’s always my favorite part. I ordered Dessert “Crostini”. They’re pistachio shortbread cookies topped with Amarena cherries, mascarpone, and micro-basil.

They were delicious! (I spy a Hidden Mickey in my dessert! Do you see it too? )

I loved everything about FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach. It’s a great location, very close to the beach, and the inside of the restaurant is so open and bright from all of the natural lighting shining through the windows. Every item brought out to our table was delicious and their staff was so delightful. It’s a great place to take the entire family for brunch (or lunch or dinner), especially with this complimentary kids’ meal promotion right now. I look forward my next visit to FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach.

It was a perfect girls’ day out. Thank you FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach!