Mondays, Muddy Buddies, and a Giveaway!

We all have certain things that remind us of our childhood.  Maybe it's a smell, a place, a song....even a food. When I received my Chex Mix Muddy Buddies in the mail, I instantly thought of when I was a kid.  My mom and friend's moms would always make this!  Well now, it's available already made, and it's super delicious! 

I recieved Chex Mix Muddy Buddies 10.5 oz package, a zak! designs snacking bowl, a Muddy Buddies "chip" clip, and an OXO airtight sealed container with the Chex Mix logo on it. Very cool, right? Absolutely and it only gets better:

Chex Mix Muddy Buddies offers a unique combination of Corn Chex cereal, peanut butter, and chocolate, dusted with a powdery sweet coating. It´s the same delicious snack you've been making at home for years, now conveniently packaged and sharable for all occasions. Plus, it´s made with 50% less fat than regular potato chips so you can enjoy the taste without the guilt. Yum! A serving size is about 1/3 of a cup (28g) and contains 130 calories.

 

Chex and MyBlogSpark are giving one my readers the same prize pack I received!  Once you try Muddy Buddies, you will be hooked!

Here's how to enter:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

• Visit  Chex Mix website and tell me what Chex Mix Snack Mix you like best.

EXTRA ENTRIES:

• Like Chex Mix on Facebook. It would be awesome if you thanked them for this giveaway and that I sent you. 
• Visit  Chex Mix Recipes and tell me which recipe you've tried or would like to try.
• Follow Chex Mix on twitter.
• Follow my blog

Please leave your email with one of your comments so I can contact the winnner.  Contest ends Monday June 13 at 11:59 pm.  Winner will be choosen via random.org and contacted by email.  Good Luck!

In the spirit of full-disclosure, Chex Mix has provided a Chex Mix Muddy Buddies gift pack that includes a bag of Chex Mix Muddy Buddies, an airtight sealed container, a snacking bowl, and a magnetic clip through MyBlogSpark for my family and 1 lucky reader to enjoy. No payment was given and, all opinions given here are my own.

I'm smitten....for Summer Strawberry Cake

Reason #142 of why I love Summer, is berries.  I love all berries; blue, black, rasp, straw.  You name is, I love it.  So when I came across Smitten Kitchen's Strawberry Summer Cake, I immediately ran home and went to work.

It was a unanimous vote....heavenly.  My husband said it tasted like "strawberry shortcake, only 1 million times better".  I just think it's delish.  It does take some time to bake, but the preparation time is simple and quick.  I highly suggest this for your next summer party or bbq or for dessert tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Summer Cake

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for pie plate
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 cup) plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 10-inch pie pan or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan (what I used).

Whisk flour or flours, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until pale and fluffy with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth.

Pour into prepared pie plate. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, on top of batter, as closely as possible in a single layer (some overlapping is okay!). Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

Bake cake for 10 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake cake until golden brown and a tester comes out free of wet batter, about 50 minutes to 60 minutes. (Gooey strawberries on the tester are a given.) Let cool in pan on a rack. Cut into wedges. Serve with whipped cream.

** Cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, loosely covered, ours will not make it that long

My very own Superman

Ever have those days???  You know those days when you get caught up in everything that really doesn't matter, but for that day, and that moment, stresses you out, and wears you down?  I have them often.  I worry about work, and my hair.  I worry about every little thing I put into my mouth, and if my outfit is too "mom" looking.  I worry about bills and money and wonder how we will ever save enough to buy a bigger house. 

But when it is all said and done, I come home to a HUGE smiling face.  I come home to snacks, and trucks, walks, and new discoveries.  I come home to the things I love most in this world, and it makes me wonder why I ever worried about any of it at all.  It makes every single worry I have seem small and silly.

The house can wait, I'll have time to clean it later.  My weight or my hair are not what defines me.  And the bills will still be there, whether I worry or not.  So instead, I'm deciding to go for a walk, enjoy his discoveries and let the little worries in life go for a while.  One thing I've learned about being a mom is that life moves way too fast and is way too short to worry about the little things.  It won't change anything.

I don't need a superhero to save me from my worries or my everyday problems.  I have my own little superman here. This superman has saved me in so many ways no one can ever see, and continues to each and every day.  

I'll forgive you...this time.

Maybe it was the holiday weekend, and many of you did not catch my post, because I can not believe that with over 500 followers I only have a small amount of entries for my Belle Fleur giveaway!!!! 

In case you missed it, click the image above and check it out.  They are perfect for summer and her shop has so many cute items!  

Wordless(ish) Wednesday...

It rained all Saturday and Sunday.  Monday was sunny and 87, which means we were outside ALL DAY.  With as few words as possible here is a recap of our Memorial Day.

 

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you are all having (and will have) a relaxing, fun filled day on this Memorial Day. 

With that, it's always nice to remember why we have this day.  I always like to think about my Grandpa, Angelo, who is a young, 97, and served in World War II. 

He is one of the few WWII heros left.  If you have some time today check out this article about my Grandpa, either way, remember those who fought and still do fight for us. 

What I'm making...

The rain is never ending.  Seriously.  It rained all day yesterday and all day today.  We sat in the garage and looked at the rain, built some forts, watched some movies and are slowly becoming bored out of our minds.

Tomorrow is forecasted to be 85 and sunny, which means I'll hopefully take some pictures, and which means we will get to spend the day outside!

What I want to share with you are is what I made for dinner:

Yes, those are blueberries on top of pork chops.

Now before you comment and tell me what a great picture I took, let me tell you I didn't take it.  My pictures did not turn out like I hoped so I used the picture from Rachel Ray. Rachel's Grilled Pork Chops with Fresh Berry Compote, is the perfect way to start off summer.  The blueberry compote adds the perfect sweetness to the heartiness of the pork chop.  With it being my first time making pork chops, I was very pleased with myself (and my husband for grililng them!).   This meal was so easy for any night of the week!

So it rained today.  The sun will come out tomorrow....so they say.  What I know for sure is Rachel made our rainy Sunday a little bit brighter (and tastier).

I hope you all are having a great Memorial Day weekend!

Grilled Pork Chops with Fresh Berry Compote

Ingredients:

• 21/2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 pt. blueberries
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 sprigs thyme
• Salt and pepper
• 2 bone-in, 1/2-inch-thick pork chops (7 oz. each)
• 1/2 box (10 oz.) couscous (1½ cups)
• 1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat a grill. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil over medium-low heat; add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the blueberries, sugar, lemon juice, thyme sprigs and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Simmer until the blueberries have released their juices and the compote has thickened, about 5 minutes. Discard the thyme sprigs and keep the sauce warm.
2. Brush the pork chops with 1 tbsp. olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill, turning once, for 8 to 10 minutes for medium; remove from the grill and let stand.
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, prepare the couscous according to package directions. Fluff with a fork, then stir in the parsley, lemon zest and remaining 1 tbsp. olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the couscous onto plates. Add the chops and any juices and spoon the berry compote on top.

Welcome Summer...and a giveaway!!!!

Summer is here!! At least that's what Memorial Day means to me. Now, I only hope the weather gets the message. Either way, it is great to have a 3 day weekend.   I am hoping to relax, get some gardening done and maybe even get to the pool. 

What better way to celebrate than with a giveaway, right?!?!?!

Belle Fleur on Etsy has beautiful, garden inspired jewelry.   Jewelry that will go perfectly with that new summer outfit you can't wait to wear.  Stacey has so many amazing pieces, and adds new pieces daily.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

All beautiful, aren't they?  Each of her pieces would make a perfect gift for yourself, or anyone else!

Stacey is offering one of my reader's these lovely earrings....

Just the sight of those earrings makes me want to relax on the beach with a nice cold drink!

Belle Fleur is also offering 10% off your first order, if placed by June 10! Just enter code JUSTANOTHERMOMDAY10.  (International shipping not available at this time)

I hope you all enjoy your weekend, and have some time to relax and spend with friends and family....

To Win (mandatory):

Visity Belle Fleur on Etsy and tell me your favorite item in her shop!

Additional Entries:

1. "Like" Belle Fleur on Facebook

2. "Like" Just Another Manic Momday on Facebook

3. Follow my blog

Please leave your email address with your entries!  Contest will end June 10th at 11:59pm.  Winner will be choosen via random.org and contacted via email.  Good luck!

 

Wordless Wednesday...

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Ours was nice, the weather ended up being great! Jack also turned 19 months this weekend which makes me more and more sad as we get closer to 2 years.  I feel like everyday he is becoming less and less of a baby, and turning more and more into a little man.  I love this stage but I just wish I could have it a bit longer.

If anyone is a baseball fan you might know that there was a pretty big series this weekend between the Cubs and the Red Sox.  They haven't played each other since 1918 in the World Series.....Boston won.

We rooted for our Cubbies...and Jack has now learned to say "Cheese!"

 

Have a great Monday and a great week!

Something very exciting is happening...

So the day is finally here...I have been counting down the days and my wait is over!  What is it you ask?
I'll let my buddy Johnny give you a clue.....

Yes it's PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN!!!!!

Now it may be a bit strange, but I love all of these movies.  I own them and can watch them over and over and over!  The husband and I are going for a date night because I had to see it the night it came out.

I have read mixed reviews, but either way, I can't wait to see it!

I hope you have a great weekend.  I hope your weather is great and that you have some time to relax.  Our weather is going to be rainy....again. 

What are your plans????

Wordless Wednesday....

just showing his muscles......

 

Check out other wordless Wednesday posts at the paper mama!

Exhausted...

You know those nights where your son is screaming all night becuase he is so stuffy and sneezy that he can't sleep?  Or those nights where your son is coughing so bad and so miserable that he only wants "Mama"?

I had one of those nights last night.  Poor guy was coughing so bad and just miserable.  This means that I am miserable today with no sleep.  I am hoping this is just a one or two day thing becuase I am not a nice person when I don't get my sleep.

Yet through all of this I can't help but LOVE it when I hear him whimper "mama? mama?".  It makes my heart melt.

It's Monday...

And I'm lazy.  I have been so run down and ready for the school year to be over that I have been slacking on many other things...taking pictures, cooking, blogging.  I promise to get better with all of them in the next week.  I am hoping to get some more energy, and time. 

In the meantime I wanted to share a super tasty, super easy meal I made last week. 

photo from eclectic recipe.com

Cashew Chicken.  I pinned it last week on Pinterest and had to try it right away.  We were not disappointed.  This was so quick and perfect for a weeknight meal.

I hope you all are doing well, and that you had a great weekend...summer is almost here!!

Cashew Chicken (courtesy of Eclectic recipes.com)

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast chopped
• 8 cloves garlic
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 bell pepper, diced (optional)
• 4 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
• 8 green onions, sliced
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 3/4 water or chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• kosher salt and pepper
• steamed white rice

Method

1. Cook white rice according to package directions. Preheat large skillet or wok over low heat. Add olive oil, garlic and cashews to skillet. Saute over low heat until garlic becomes golden, but don’t let the garlic brown, or it will become bitter.
2. Salt and pepper chicken. Add chicken to skillet and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Add cornstarch to a small bowl with the water and mix well.  Add cornstarch and water to chicken. Then add hoisin sauce and vinegar. Simmer for 5 – 10 minutes, until sauce has thickened. Just before serving, add green onions and serve with rice.

Wordless(ish) Wednesday....

One thing I've learned from Jack:  Enjoy the small things....like a sucker.....