Smashed Peas and Carrots: January 2012

Head and Shoulders Green Apple Review and VISA Gift Card Giveaway

**This giveaway is now closed!!**

Do you remember when I hosted a giveaway for the New Head & Shoulders Eucalyptus Itchy Scalp Care shampoo and conditioner last year?

Well, I'm here to tell you that if you liked that line you will love their newest line of hair care. This one has one great smelling ingredient...Green Apples!

I was asked to try out the new line of Head & Shoulders Green Apple shampoos and conditioners a while back, and can I just tell you me likey a lot!

First, I love fun, fresh-smelling shampoos so this one is right up my alley because the naturally inspired green apple scent is so yummy.

The scent is not fake-smelling, and it's also not too strong yet it lasts throughout the day. And not that crazy overkill I'm-a-teenager-with-my-scented-Lip Smackers kind of scent but that nice and light ooh, my hair smells fresh and clean kind of scent that you notice randomly throughout the day. Just enough of a scent that you smile at how clean your hair smells.

Now if you are a momma like me, you just might not remember if you even washed your hair any given day so to be able to smell your hair throughout the day and smell something so delicious and light, well, that pretty much makes my day (and high five myself for remembering to get in a quick shower!)

Just like the last set of products I tried from Head & Shoulders, the green apple scented line also gives you virtually flake-free beautiful hair which you know I love with this dry, midwest winter weather we are having right now...only 3 more months of this *crossing my fingers!* I adore a shampoo and conditioner that make getting beautiful hair even easier, don't you?!

Some other great things about Head & Shoulders advanced formula you may be interested in are that it relieves scalp itch, dryness, irritation, and helps prevent those icky flakes we all hate to see while improving your hair and scalp health.

Their shampoos and conditioners are very gentle and are pH balanced so you can use them every single day if you'd like. Do you color or perm your hair? If so, you are in luck because Head & Shoulders products are gentle enough for treated hair, too.

Here is a little from Head & Shoulders themselves:

Head & Shoulders collection of soothing products promises to ease three scalp and dandruff problems: dryness, itchiness, and sensitivity. With 84% of surveyed scalp issue sufferers concerned about these issues, Head & Shoulders has combined the effectiveness of their HydraZinc formula to alleviate these conditions leaving your hair beautifully flake free* *visible flakes, with regular use. Up to 100% flake free.

BlogHer and Head & Shoulders are offering up ONE $50 dollar VISA gift card to one of my lucky readers! To enter for a chance to win this giveaway please tell me in a comment below,

"What scents make you feel beautiful and fresh?"

**The winner of this giveaway is #146 Angie Lilly...congratulations!***

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/30 - 2/28.

The Official Rules are available here.

Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggersí reviews and find more chances to win! And visit the Life Well Lived section on BlogHer.com for more great tips on looking your best.

XOXO,

Olive Garden Review and $100 Gift Card Giveaway

**This giveaway has ended!!**

I was asked earlier this year to be a part of Olive Garden's "Real Food Real People" campaign and jumped at the chance as I love me some Olive Garden. How can anyone resist their soup, salad and breadsticks?

So a couple of weeks ago, some of my girlfriends and I headed out for a Girls' Night Out, and Olive Garden was our dinner destination point for a fresh, delicious Italian-inspired meal.

Now, I don't get to Olive Garden as much as I'd like to these days. The one in my area is a good 20 minute drive, and I'm usually found wrangling three kids. I have to say, every single time I go, I am always so happy with their menu selection. Everything always sounds good, and when I finally do make a selection it always tastes great. I actually don't think I've ever had a meal there I didn't like!

My friends and I visited on a Saturday night, and we only had to wait about 20 minutes for a table with no reservation. Not too bad! Once we were seated, our super friendly waiter offered us a sampling of their house wine for the night (which I of course declined as I am currently with child!) But what a way to start off a girl's night out :-)

Then we literally spent 20 minutes picking out our dinners as there was soooo much to choose from that it was hard to narrow it down to just one dish. Our waiter was so polite and funny, and he did such a great job of taking care of us. Olive Garden always seems to have the best staff and service every time I visit. I also love the comfortable, friendly atmosphere, especially the rolling chairs if you sit at a non-booth table; it makes for an easy out if you need to visit the bathroom during your meal!

Most meals at Olive Garden come with unlimited breadsticks AND unlimited soup or salad, which is my absolute favorite thing about eating there. Oh, how I wish I could just buy a bottle of their salad dressing; that stuff is seriously so good. Their portion sizes are large, and each one of us ended up taking leftovers home; they even offer to give you the breadsticks to take home to boot, which in my opinion is so awesome, as so many restaurants just take the bread away and throw it out.

I think our husbands enjoyed us having a night out, too, as my friend's husband asked her to bring her leftovers home, and mine was begging for my leftovers when I walked in the door! Of course I gave them to him as a thank you for putting our kids to bed while I enjoyed a night with friends, a total win-win.

Also, Olive Garden is coming out with a NEW $12.95 DINNER SPECIAL that I cannot wait to go back and try. It is going to include:

3 Course Italian Dinner for $12.95

1^st course is soup or salad

2^nd course is one of 5 new entrees

3^rd course is one of 5 Dolcini desserts.

If you want to see all the delicious options available in Olive Garden's 3 Course Italian Dinner just visit Olivegarden.com/specials

Would you like to enjoy a night out at your local Olive Garden?

BlogHer and Olive Garden are giving away a $100 Olive Garden gift card to ONE of my lovely readers!

To be entered for a chance to win, just tell me 'who you would take to dinner at Olive Garden and why.'

**The Winner is #261...

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a)Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b)Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c)Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d)For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/23/12 - 3/18/12.

Also, visit the Olive Garden page on BlogHer.com to check out the other blogger reviews and more chances to win!

XOXO,

Labels: Giveaways, Reviews

New Years ReSEWLution: Embroidered Hot & Cold Packs

Today I'm over at Me Sew Crazy guest posting as a part of Jess's January blog series called New Years ReSEWLutions, a series chock full of excellent sewing-related resolutions to get you moving in the new year!

I'm showing you how I made these fun hot/cold packs for my kiddies so they can get toasty warm once they come in from playing out in the cold. It's either these or we gotta start buying stock in chocolate for all the hot chocolate they've been drinking to warm up this winter!

Click here to read all about them!

XOXO,

Labels: Guest Blogger

The Runaround Knit Cowl-FREE PATTERN

For some reason the first few months of the year seem like the perfect time to knit to me, I don't know why I always feel this way but I do. A couple weeks ago I finished up my new favorite cowl, I'm even wearing it as I type this post! I called it the Runaround Cowl because it has been absolutely perfect to runaround town in while I head to work, run errands, drive the kids to play dates, as well as do all the other random stuff I seem to do every single day. :-)

This cowl is extra awesome because you can wear it TWO ways! You can wrap it around twice to keep your neck warm and cozy or just throw it on as is to spice up any 'ol t-shirt you have on hand. From drab to fab I tell you.

You knit this cowl on two straight sticks and then sew the ends together with a twist to give the cowl a more decorative look. See that twist at the bottom there in the picture above...love it!

The Runaround Knit Cowl

1 skein of Lion Brand Homespun yarn

US Size 15 (10 mm) straight knitting needles

scissors and yarn needle

Gauge does not matter although my finished cowl measures 10 inches wide by 50 inches in length.

Cast on 25 stitches

Row 1: *K1 P1; Repeat from * across. K1

Continue with this pattern until cowl measures 50 inches or your desired length.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

Weave in tails.

Sew short ends together with a yarn needle making sure that you have made one twist in the cowl before sewing ends.

I'm totally loving my new cowl. And the best part is that you can knit it up in only a few hours time. Since the knit pattern is fairly basic you can even get it done while watching a little Downton Abbey (my new favorite show!)

Oooh, and how about a little belly shot! 18 weeks and counting.

What do you think...boy or girl?

XOXO,

Labels: Knitting, Tutorials

Pink Poodle Bows GIVEAWAY

I've got a great giveaway that you all are going to love today! Pink Poodle Bows is here today to share some of her beautiful children's clothing patterns with you all...hooray!

Alisha is the owner, designer and momma behind Pink Poodle Bows. She creates and designs gorgeous children's clothing all while being a momma to two little girls and being a FULL TIME first grade teacher, okay...my mind is officially blown! The great thing about all her patterns is that she designs them with the beginning sewist in mind meaning that all the instructions are easy to follow, yay for that! And every garment you make from them will look as professional as a store-bought piece because of the detail found in her patterns.

Here's a peek at some of her oh-so-sweet designs:

The Bailey Romper

The Riley Dress

The Eden Dress

The Fleece Aviator Hat

Super sweet designs, right! Pink Poodle Bows has even more designs to choose from in the full collection found here, head on over and browse to your heart's content!

You likey what you see? Let's be honest, how could you not!

Pink Poodle Bows is generously giving away any 3 patterns from her shop!!!

To enter today's giveaway, and you can do so 4 times (one comment per entry please!)

1. Head on over to Pink Poodle Bows and tell me which pattern is your favorite!

2. "Like" Pink Poodle Bows on Facebook HERE.

3. "Like" Smashed Peas and Carrots on Facebook HERE.

4. Be or Become a Follower of Smashed Peas and Carrots!!

Giveaway ends this Saturday January 28, 2011

Good Luck!

XOXO,

Labels: Giveaways

Crockpot Hot Chocolate-RECIPE

This past weekend my husband Clif had an actual Saturday off from work so we thought it would be a good idea to spend an hour on Saturday morning bundling up the kids in snowsuits, coats, warm hats, mittens and snow boots to take them all sledding. If you have kids, you know how much work is involved in getting out the door once cold weather hits. Somedays it's just no fun at all but if our agenda is to head to our nearest giant snow-laden hill than we are cool with it. This was our first sledding adventure this winter if you can believe it. We finally had a big snowfall here in Illinois last week and the snow was just perfect for sledding and building snowman.

Before we headed out the door I made my favorite hot chocolate in my crockpot so when we came back from our snowy day out it would be ready and waiting for us to warm up our bellies. I don't know about you but my kids immediately ask for hot chocolate the minute they come in from playing out in the cold. If you have never made hot chocolate in a crockpot you must! It is so nice to come home and have a warm cup of chocolatey goodness just waiting for you after you spent a good 20 minutes getting everyone out of their snow gear...just one less thing to do!

I love this recipe because it makes really creamy hot chocolate and it used 3 types of chocolate so the (pregnant) chocolate lover in me is satisfied. I hope you love it too and make some before your next cold-weather gathering!

Crockpot Hot Chocolate (serves 4-6)

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 tsp vanilla

3 cups milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 tbsp white chocolate chips

1 tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips

whipped cream

mini chocolate chips for serving

Combine the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt together in your crockpot. I used my mini crockpot to make this! Add in the milk and vanilla and whisk everything together until smooth and well-combined. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours. After 2 hours, add in the heavy cream, white and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir until chips are melted. After about 10 minutes, pour into mugs and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips. Enjoy!

First up, grab 1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and add it to your crockpot. I used my little 'mini' crockpot, the one you usually use for warm dips, I find it is just perfect for this recipe.

Then add in 1/3 cup of white granulated sugar.

And a 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Add the vanilla and pour in 3 cups of milk, any variety will do although the more milk fat the creamier your hot chocolate will be...and more fattening...but hey, this is hot chocolate and it is winter so it's worth it! I personally like to go with 1% as we will be adding in heavy cream a bit later ;-)

Grab your whisk and whisk all that goodness up....Yum! Place the cover back on your crockpot and cook on LOW for about 2 hours. Now, go sledding!

After 2 hours your hot chocolate will look a little like this...frothy on top!

Now go ahead and pour in 1 cup of heavy cream...

And add in your tablespoon each of white and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Who's hips are getting fat just thinking about this?

Stir it all up until those chips are melted. Wait about 10 minutes for the cream to warm up a bit and then ladle it out dude.

I love serving it with whipped cream and mini chocolate chips, my kids love it this way. I think it has to do with the thought of more candy getting into their bellies. Of course whatever your favorite toppings and add-ins you enjoy are perfect too.

Mmm...one for me and one for you.

Enjoy....and stay warm out there!

XOXO,

Labels: Crockpot, Drinks, Recipes

For the New Babe...

So I went and bought the new babe something a little bit ago, I had to, it was like there was this magnetic force pulling me towards my computer and Amazon.com.

I bought one of these sweet Sophie the Giraffe teethers, well actually two as I figured any toy/baby product that I adore and therefore my little babe loves usually ends up lost, left behind, or eaten by our dog...smh.

Having received the teethers only a few weeks ago, I am already in love with them...seriously just as cute in person as in the picture, I swear. They are also made with natural rubber, the details are painted with food paint, and they are BPA and Phthalate Free which gets this momma's seal of approval for sure but the big kicker is that the little squeaky sound is super cute--not annoying like so many others we have had in the past, holla!

Oh, and I realize that Sophie is a girl giraffe but even if the baby is a boy I figured he wouldn't care anyways, right? Babies just love something to drool on. Anyways, I just wanted to share a little something I went and bought recently, I am getting so excited for this little one to arrive even if it is 5 months away ;-) If you want to buy one to you can get it here!

Happy Weekend-ing!

XOXO,

Labels: Baby Stuff, Things I love

Quick Fix Sticky Buns-RECIPE

Okay, okay, don't kill me for this post today but I thought I would share one of our favorite fast fixes for when we are craving Sticky Buns but just don't have the time to make them from scratch. Oh my, don't you just love sticky buns? I adore them as does my family, you might even say a little too much.

This recipe works particulary well on those Sunday mornings when we just can't seem to get everyone out the door for church on time. Does that ever happen to you? We always try to enjoy a nice family breakfast before we go, sometimes pancakes or french toast and always with bacon or sausage...Mmmm!...but some Sundays it seems like everything and everybody is running late so our breakfast needs to be made a bit more quickly even though we still want it to be sit-down-at-the-table good, you know.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do, oh and you can customize it too. Add bananas, chocolate chips or replace the pecans with walnuts or even try no nuts at all! Let's hear it for quick and delicious :-)

Quick Fix Sticky Buns

1 tube refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

2 tbsp butter, cut into 8 pieces

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

3 tbsp brown sugar

In a muffin tin, place one piece of butter into 8 compartments. Sprinkle pecans and brown sugar over top of the butter. Open up the tube of biscuits and place one over top of each muffin tin, pressing the biscuit down slightly. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Once the biscuits are golden brown take the muffin tin out of the oven. Place a piece of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and while the sticky buns are still hot, flip them out onto the cookie sheet. You may need to scrape some of the caramelized sugar and pecans from the bottom of each tin. Enjoy!

I used Trader Joe's buttermilk biscuits, these are definitely large-sized biscuits kinda like Pillsbury Grands. Large biscuits work well in this recipe but if you would like a more gooey sticky bun you may want to buy the smaller tube of buttermilk biscuits (the Pillsbury's Grand Jr variety) or up the butter and brown sugar a bit!

Grab your pecans and chop them into small pieces, I like to use raw pecans but you can use roasted and salted pecans too...

Then get your 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, light or dark, it doesn't matter!

Then take 2 tablespoons of cold butter...

And cut into 8 pieces, enough pieces to equal the number of biscuits in the can. Place a piece of butter into the bottom of 8 muffin tin compartments. PS...I'm using a 6 muffin tin so I'll have two biscuits leftover to use for later!