Tasty Tuesdays

Tasty Tuesday: Pack 'n Go Party Recipes

It's beginning to feel a little like summer out there (just a tad! Over 90 degrees in April??? Whaaaaa?!)!

But if your family is anything like mine, that means it's picnic and party season.
Whether your heading to a family reunion, a church picnic, a graduation or birthday party or even just a simple BBQ among friends...these recipes are sure to guarantee happy tummies and compliments! And they're super easy for 'on-the-go' traveling...a must have requirement for when you've been nominated to bring your signature dish to the BBQ!

Here's a few recipes to help make your party a hit!

Salads:

Layered Summer Salad
Garden Fresh Pasta Salad
Zesty New Potato Salad
Make Ahead Mexican Salad

Desserts:
Striped Delight
Frozen Cinco De Mayo Dessert
Quick Lemon Berry Trifle

Drinks:
Pineapple Punch
Sangria Punch
Mojito Lemon Lime Cocktail


Do you have a favorite "take 'n go" recipe?

If so...share it with us! Leave a comment or a link to your fave recipes! We'd love hear what you're bringing to the picnics and parties this summer!

All recipes courtesy of Kraft Foods.

Philadelphia Museum Week

Monday, April 27 through Sunday, May 3
Greater Philadelphia’s museums offer countless opportunities for remembering, discovering, and learning. During Museum Week, April 27-May 3, over fifty regional museums offer the public a wide variety of special discounts on admission and museum store purchases. Celebrate this incredibly rich region: visit an area museum during Museum Week! Click here for more info.

The West Chester Helicopter Museum

has special Museum Week pricing this week.

Wednesday-Sunday

$5 per person.

1220 American Boulevard

West Chester, PA 19380

610-436-9600

Great new site for kids!

Thanks to Chester County Mom, Shannon for this great tip on a new site called Planet Orange.

Planet Orange (http://www.orangekids.com/) is a new kids’ site from ING DIRECT. It’s designed to teach kids in grades 1–6 about money and responsibility (BORING!) in a way that’s engaging, interactive and most important—FUN!

Planet Orange doesn’t just teach about money, it shows kids how money affects their lives—now and as they grow up. It gives them good fundamentals so they can really “get” ideas about finance and responsible money management.

If you haven’t talked to your child about money yet, now’s a great time to have a kitchen table talk about it. You can even use Planet Orange to learn about money together.

The Ringling Barnum & Bailey Circus, "Zing Zang Zoom" Ticket Give Away

The Ringling Barnum & Bailey Circus, "Zing Zang Zoom" is coming to The Wachovia Spectrum and we are giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to see the show on opening night May 13th at 7:00pm.

Click here to learn more about The Ringling Barnum & Bailey Circus, "Zing Zang Zoom".

You can purchase a family 4 pack of tickets online at http://www.ComcastTix.com/ for only $44, by entering the promo code MOM**.


**Tickets can also be purchased by calling 1-800-298-4200. Minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4, can be purchased for $11 each. Special Promotional pricing not available for VIP Gold, VIP, Circus Celebrity Seating or combined with any other offers. Other service fees may apply.

Philadelphia Show Dates

Wednesday, May 13th at 7:00pm
Thursday, May 14th at 7:00pm

Friday, May 15th at 10:30am

Friday, May 15th at 7:00pm

Saturday, May 16th at 11:00am

Saturday, May 16th at 3:00pm

Saturday, May 16th at 7:00pm

Sunday, May 17th at 1:00pm

Sunday, May 17th at 5:00pm

To enter this contest leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com and enter "Zing Zang Zoom" in the subject line.

The winner of this contest must be a resident of Chester County. This contest will end on May 1st. The winner will be notified via email and has 24 hours to respond to the "You Won!" email. The winner of this contest will pick up their tickets (with photo ID) at The Wachovia Spectrum "will call" on the night of the show, May 13th. The FREE tickets are only good for the opening night show on May 13th. This giveaway does NOT include transportation, parking fees, food or drink.

Want a few extra opportunities to win?

(1) Extra entry - Join the Chester County Moms Group on Facebook (make sure to let us know you would like to enter Zing Zang Zoom contest)

(1) Extra Entry - Friend ChescoMoms on FB and update your FB status to...Chesco Moms are giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to The Ringling Barnum & Baily Circus "Zing Zang Zoom". Click on this link and enter to win. http://tinyurl.com/cwqg4q

(1) Extra Entry - Follow ChescoMoms on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway! (DM us and let us know you would like to enter the Ringling Barnum & Bailey Circus, "Zing Zang Zoom" Ticket Give Away. Just remember to include this is a contest for Chesco Residents in your tweet.)

(1) Extra Entry - Blog about this giveaway! Don't forget to link Chester County Moms in your blog post (email* us so we know about your post don't forget to include your URL.)

(1) Extra Entry - Follow us at Chester County Moms (if you're already a follower...that counts too! Let us know via email*)

(1) Extra Entry - Subscribe to Chester County Moms Feed Blitz (if your already subscribe..let us know via email!* There is a link to sign up on the right side bar.)

(1) Extra Entry - Put the Chester County Moms button on your blog (let us know the URL where we can find it...and if you have it already...just let us know via email*...it still counts!)

*Our EMAIL - contests@chestercountymoms.com (Subject-Zing Zang Zoom)

Bee-Eazy Bag Give Away - 2 Winners!

Bee-Eazy bags have an innovative design, offering the best features available in a reusable bag. They are easily opened and ready to use in seconds - significantly reducing single-use bag waste. Each bag conveniently clips to your purse, belt, keys or shopping cart. Bee-Eazy bags are attractive, affordable, and designed to be unforgettable.

Bee-Eazy original bags have an innovative design, offering the best features available in a reusable bag. They are easily opened and ready to use in seconds - significantly reducing single-use bag waste. Bee-Eazy Bags are made of durable Nylon and are water resistant. Each bag holds the equivalent capacity of 20 lbs (just about 3 gallons of milk)

Click here to order your Bee-Eazy reusable bag. Enter the coupon code "BeeGreen" to save on orders of Five or more bags. Discount applied during checkout. For more information on Bee-Eazy Bags visit http://www.bee-eazybags.com/

One small change can make a big difference... it's just that easy!

We are giving away 2 Bee-Eazy Bags. 1 yellow and 1 black. Enter to win 1 of the bags by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com and enter Bee-Eazy in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Earth Week Give Aways

Have you entered all of our Earth Week Give Aways? If not, click here and Good Luck!

Bamboo Plush Panda
Wool Worth It - Accessory Gift Set
Little Boo & Co. - Boo Boo Cube (5 winners)
Footprints Bamboo Socks
Bee Eazy Reusable Bag (2 winners)
Soap- It Nuts
A Green Day - Reusuable Dry Cleaning Bag

Reusable Dry Cleaning Bag from A Green Day.org - GIVE AWAY

This 100% Organic Reusable Dry Cleaning Garment bag is for the consumer

who likes to keep it eco-friendly.

Tired of the waste that comes from every visit to the dry cleaners..? Darleen Reilly was. That is why she designed the reusable dry cleaning garment bag that can be reused over and over again. The way it works it you place your bag upside down on a hook placing your soiled clothes in the bag. Once your ready to return to the dry cleaners you deliver the soiled clothes in the bag leaving the bag with the clothes only to have your clean items returned in your very own bag eliminating the use of plastics in the dry cleaning industry. The simple and easy way of going green.

Agreenday.org is committed in providing products that can reduce waste, Eco Friendly, Sustainable, Recyclable and all made in the USA.


1 LUCKY Chester County reader will win a 100% Organic Cotton reusable drycleaning bag from Agreenday.org, valued at $55. Enter to win by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com and enter Dry Cleaning Bag in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

This is the last of our fabulous Earth Week Give Aways...Want extra entries??

(1) Extra entry - Join the Chester County Moms Group on Facebook (make sure to let us know you would like to enter the A Green Day.org Reuseable Dry Cleaning Bag contest)

(1) Extra Entry - Friend ChescoMoms on FB and update your FB status to...Chesco Moms are giving away an awesome reusable dry cleaning bag worth $55 at Chester County Moms. Click on this link and enter to win. http://tinyurl.com/cwqg4q

(1) Extra Entry - Follow ChescoMoms on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway! (DM us and let us know you would like to enter the A Green Day.org Reuseable Dry Cleaning Bag contest. Just remember to include this is a contest for Chesco Residents in your tweet.)

(1) Extra Entry - Blog about this giveaway! Don't forget to link Chester County Moms & A Green Day.org in your blog post (email* us so we know about your post don't forget to include your URL.)

(1) Extra Entry - Follow us at Chester County Moms (if you're already a follower...that counts too! Let us know via email*)

(1) Extra Entry - Subscribe to Chester County Moms Feed Blitz (if your already subscribe..let us know via email!* There is a link to sign up on the right side bar.)

(1) Extra Entry - Put the Chester County Moms button on your blog (let us know the URL where we can find it...and if you have it already...just let us know via email*...it still counts!)

*Our EMAIL - contests@chestercountymoms.com (Subject-Dry Cleaning Bag)

SHE with the most entries wins!

Soap -It Nuts Give Away

Soap-it Nuts are non-toxic & biodegradable. They have no optical brighteners, no petro-chemical compounds, no dyes, no phenols, no fragrances, and no phosphates. Soap Nuts are truly sustainable because they grow on trees and are harvested every year. They will effectively clean your clothes, leaving them fresh and soft. Say good-bye to all that commercial laundry detergent that is harmful to you and our environment. They are economical and easy to use, even if they are ugly.

*Safe on any fabric
*Economical and easy to use
*No plastic containers made from petroleum!
*No need for fabric softener.
*Soap-it Nuts will safely & effectively clean your clothes, leaving them fresh and soft.

*Soap nuts are great for pet shampoo, jewelry cleaning, household cleaning, car washing, and can also be used as a natural pesticide. Click here to learn more.

So what exactly is a ‘soap nut’? It is the dried fruit of the Sapindus Mukossi tree that grows in India and Nepal. This fruit of the tree produces ‘Saponin” a natural cleanser which is a 100% alternative to ‘commercial’ detergent. They are allergy-free and have been used for hundreds of years on all types of fabric in other countries. Soap-it Nuts are highly effective, gentle and cost effective. Our Soap-it Nuts leave laundry clean and their mildness will keep your clothes soft. The fabric structure of your clothes is maintained for longer periods because they are so gentle. They can be used on all types of fabric in any temperature. No fabric softener is necessary because the Soap-it Nuts leave your clothes naturally soft.

How do I to Use Soap-it Nuts? It is easy to use Soap-it Nuts. Simply put 3-4 nuts or shells in the cloth bag provided and throw them in with your wash. They work best in a warm-water wash and cold rinse. Wash clothes as usual. Pull the cloth bag out before you put your clothes in the dryer. Your clothes will be clean, fresh and soft. Use 3-4 nuts for a large load up to 3-4 times. You’ll be amazed.will cut through dirt and grease of even heavily soiled clothes. A liquid soap can easily be made from the nuts and is wonderful for HE machines, cold-water washes or washing dishes.

Enter to win 1 bag of Soap-It nuts (enough for approx. 60 loads of laundry) by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com. and enter Soap- It Nuts in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Footprints Bamboo Give Away

Footprint bamboo active wear offers sensationally soft and eco-friendly organic bamboo clothing, socks, underwear and accessories. How is this possible? Bamboo pulp, when spun, creates a silky fiber that feels like cashmere yet it's easy to care for as its machine washable.

Bamboo clothing has become the natural, environmentally friendly solution for athletic and active wear. It inherently guards against unwanted moisture, bacteria, odor & UV rays. As avid outdoor-sports people, we understand the importance of our clothing to be comfortable & functional. Footprints Bamboo socks has also developed a devoted following of people with diabetes who were searching for diabetic socks and have found our seamless, moisture wicking Bamboo Diabetic Socks. Footprint Bamboo clothing & Bamboo socks deliver performance, comfort and affordability! When you wear the Footprint logo, you demonstrate that you are doing your part in leaving a good impression too.

Why Bamboo?Because it's...

Buttery Soft

Antibacterial
Moisture Wicking
Breathable

Odorless

Organic

Footprint Bamboo active wear is available in Chester County at Fairman's, Exton Bicycle, Hotfoot Cycles, and West Chester Bicycle Center.

Enter to win 1 pair of eco-friendly unisex socks (size small - ladies 5-8.5/mens 4-9) by leaving a comment below or emailing contests (at) chestercountymoms.com. and enter Footprint in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, May 1st at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Don't forget to check our community calendar. There are lots of great activities to keep your family busy all weekend.

Shire Day at Please Touch Museum - FREE Admission!

Please Touch Museum

Memorial Hall, Fairmount Pak

4231 Avenue of the Republic
(Formerally -4231 N. Concourse Drive)

Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 334-3472
http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/

The Please Touch Museum is opening its doors at no cost to children this Friday, April 24th for the . This special free admission for kids (ages 12 and under) includes interactive exhibit zones, Please Touch Playhouse Theater, and all activities related to April’s Celebrate Stories Month. Plus, they’ll have a chance to ride the restored, whimsical Carousel.

Regular admission is $15 (adults and children over 12), and the hours of operation are 9am to 5pm Mondays through Fridays and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

The newly expanded Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall provides play experiences in each exhibit zone, while paying special attention to our littlest visitors, with toddler areas throughout the museum.

Win a Boo Boo Cube from Lil Boo & Co.!

Congratulations to our Lil Boo & Co. Boo Boo Cubes give away winners: Kate Hargrove, Steph, Caitlin, Chris Stulak, and Jen.


Five readers will have the chance to win a Boo Boo Cube™ from Lil Boo & Co.!

I know what you're thinking...what in the world is a Boo Boo Cube™?!

Well...does your child have a boo boo, bump or bruise that needs some extra care? Place the Boo Boo Cube™ on the "ouchie" and it'll feel all better!

Made with soft flannel cotton fabric and filled with only the best high quality rice, the Boo Boo Cube™ can be frozen or heated in the microwave to suit your child's "boo boo" needs!

Place in the freezer for a safe, non-toxic cold pack and grab it anytime a boo boo happens (a nice alternative to the toxic gel packs...that often leak)! The Boo Boo Cube™ distributes the "cold" evenly without the burning sensation of a bare ice cube or the drippy mess of a cold rag. The Boo Boo Cube™ can also be placed in the microwave for 30 seconds for a soothing warm therapy bag for sore muscles, backaches or even headaches (some moms say that they even used them when they were breastfeeding for a clogged milk duct and soreness)! There's endless uses for the Boo Boo Cube™! And when you're done with it, just toss it back in the freezer until the next time you need it!

Lil Boo & Co. is offering 5 Boo Boo Cubes to give away to 5 Chester County Moms! The winners get to choose their choice of fabric as well. Click HERE to see all the designs.

Lil Boo & Co. is an Etsy shop owned by a local Philadelphia mom!

To enter this contest please leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com and enter Boo Boo Cube in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, April 24th at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Remember...there will be FIVE winners!!

Sun & Earth Day at The NBC 10! Show

We were invited to a taping of the NBC 10! Show, this morning by our friends at Sun & Earth. We were really excited, as the 10! Show, rolled out the red carpet for us and sat us in the very front row. Sun & Earth, President John Mullins, was interviewed on todays show about the collection of All Natural Sun & Earth products.

Click here to visit www.nbcPhiladelphia.com for a $1.00 off Sun & Earth coupon.

Shannon, Lori Wilson, Nicole and Bill Henley

Earth Day Crafts for Kids

In celebration of Earth Day, round up the little ones this week for a few crafts and projects that promote environmental awareness.Paper Mache Globe

These crafts range from simple to more complex (in no particular order), depending on the ages of your children. The key idea is to promote recycling, reusing and reducing. A great way to teach that concept to children is by collecting recycled materials from around your home and allow them to turn them into another treasure!

Take a peek at these fun things you can do with your kids this week:

Eggshell Planter
Egg Carton Bug Mobile

Tin Can Herb Pots
Compost Bin

Laundry Bottle Pet Food Scoop
Ladybug Rocks

For more Earth Day crafts and projects for your kids, click here.

Bitty Bag and Accessories from Wool Worth It: Giveaway!!!

Win an adorable Bitty Bag by Wool Worth It for yourself or a special girl in your life! We're also including both a coordinating pin (to create another matching purse/clutch or to adorn your favorite sweater or jacket) and hair barrette!

What makes Wool Worth It™ products unique is simply that their items are works of art in addition to being everyday items that are well-made and functional. More than that, their products are ‘green’. The line uses mostly recycled and repurposed wool that would otherwise go to landfills. Also, new materials that are used come almost entirely from natural and renewable sources.

Most of the items are one-of-a-kind, and are carefully designed from materials they’ve acquired over time and then carefully crafted individually to create unique and harmonious compositions.

Being a steward of the world and our environment is critical to this company. Their products are green and are often crafted from repurposed materials, lowering our impact on the earth and using less scarce resources. Additionally, they donate a portion of all profits to well-run organizations that support entrepreneurship in the developing world or which preserve threatened wildlife habitats.

Good luck!

To enter this contest please leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com and enter Bitty Bag in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, April 24th at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Tasty Tuesdays

Tasty Tuesdays: Favorite Pillsbury Recipes

As noted in a previous post, Pillsbury just concluded taking recipe submissions for it's 44th Bake-Off®...and now the cooking, taste-testing, scrutinizing and judging occurs as test kitchen cooks over at Pillsbury try to narrow it down to 100 tasty, Pillsbury worthy recipes! Out of those 100 recipes, only one will hold the prestigious award of the 2010 winner of the Pillsbury Bake-Off® (oh yeah...and the $1 million dollar prize that goes with it)! Be sure to stay tuned to Pillsbury as they plan for the Bake-Off® contest which will be held in Orlando, April 11-13, 2010.

Pillsbury has been a staple in many kitchens for a long time...and as busy moms with busy families, Pillsbury has a lot to offer...yes, more than just that cute little Doughboy! With healthy, economical recipes literally at our fingertips...getting dinner on the table is easier than ever!

This week's Tasty Tuesdays is going to feature links to some of the previous Bake-Off® recipes! Check out the delicious recipes in each category (in no way were these recipes chosen to "go together" to make a complete meal...they are just some that have great reviews and look scrumptious!) ...

Appetizers: Mediterranean Crescent Pinwheels

Main Dishes: Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

Breads: Cheddar Twisters

Condiments: Fresh Mango Salsa

Drinks: Creme Caramel Chai Smoothies

Side Dishes: Springtime Orzo

Snacks: Monkey Cereal Bars

Desserts: Funfetti Cookies

Do you have a Pillsbury recipe that you can't live without?

Leave us a comment and/or a link to it! We'd love to try it out!

Visit Pillsbury for other great recipes, tips, promotions and coupons!

Disney Store - Earth Day FREE Gift Offer

If you take 3 plastic bottles to The Disney Store on Earth Day, April 22nd you will receive a FREE gift, while supplies last!

Click here for more info.

My Natural Bamboo Plush Panda - Give Away

This is the first in our week long Earth Week give aways. This adorable eco-friendly panda is 9” and is not only silky-soft to the touch, but the bamboo fabric itself has many amazing properties. Bamboo is one of the most sustainable materials in the world and absorbs more carbon dioxide and releases more oxygen than any other plant on earth.

It’s naturally antibacterial and reduces allergy levels, and because of the all-natural PureWaterWash™ coloring process, this lovable toy is safe for your little ones to chew on.

My Natural Bamboo Collection, is available exclusively at Barnes and Noble.

To enter this contest please leave a comment below or email contests(at)chestercountymoms.com and enter Bamboo Panda in the subject line. This contest is open to Chester County Residents. One entry per household. This contest will end on Friday, April 24th at midnight. The winner will be notified via email and has 10 days to claim the prize.

Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest

You still have a little time to enter Pillsbury's Annual Bake-Off contest!

Submit an original recipe before midnight on April 20, 2009 and you very well may be on your way to winning $1,000,000, new appliances and much more! Moms just like you and me have won this contest many times before! So scurry to the kitchen and whip something up...it just might change your life!

To get an overview, see the contest guidelines and to submit an original recipe, just click HERE.

And if you're just not quite ready to submit a recipe this year, you can still browse all the previous winners' recipes right HERE! Yum!

Betty Crocker - The Mixer

We thought you might be interested in checking out a great video on The
Mixer – a new online cooking club from Betty Crocker!


When you join The Mixer online (IT’S FREE!) you will learn the ins and
outs of cooking and baking, while interacting with Betty Crocker
Kitchens experts LIVE during a class and connecting with an entire
community of people just like you. What’s great is that you can do it in
the comfort of your own kitchen whenever it best fits your schedule.

For complete details on each of the classes simply go to
www.bettycrocker.com/themixer and register to become a member

March for Babies 2009 - Downingtown Walk

March for Babies 2009
Kerr Park-Struble Trail

Downingtown
Saturday, April 25, 2009
*Registration begins at 8:30am and the 5 mile walk begins at 9:30am

WHY should YOU get involved?: Through March for Babies, the March of Dimes biggest fundraiser, The March of Dimes is are able to continue the mission of improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes is fighting to give every baby a healthy start.

HOW can YOU get involved?: Walkers raise funds by asking friends, family members, business associates and neighbors to sponsor them with a donation to the March of Dimes. Chester County’s March for Babies is a fun 5-mile route with plenty of stops along the way to eat and drink. Family friendly activities(snacks, music, raffles, moonbounce and entertainment) will take place after the walk! To register a team and learn how easy it is to get involved, call Jen Bauman at the March of Dimes at 610-945-6050 or email jbauman@marchofdimes.com or visit www.marchforbabies.org

We need YOUR help to give every baby a healthy start in life and to get one step closer to the Downingtown’s March for Babies goal of raising $125,000.00!

Earth Week: Giveaways Galore!!!

Wednesday, April 22nd is Earth Day! To celebrate this wonderful day of recognition, we are having a big, ol' Earth Week giveaway blowout!!!

Starting on Monday, check back for multiple daily "green" giveaways that are sure to sure to delight your inner "Mother Nature"!

It's gonna be BIG! So, make sure you check back on Monday for your opportunity to win lots of great, green gear!

Kid's Eat FREE at Kildare's on Sunday

Kildare's Irish Pub
18-22 West Gay Street,
West Chester, PA 19380,
610-431-0770

Kid's Eat FREE on Sunday's from 10am-3PM, with the purchase of an adult entree.

One free kid's meal per adult per visit.
For more info please visit: http://www.kildarespub.com/

Kildare's has lots of other great specials during the week too... like $5 burgers on Tuesday.

Parks in Chester County

Woo-hoo for spring! Now that he weather it is finally getting nicer we wanted to share a link to all of the great parks in Chester County listed by township. Get directions, township web addresses and information on the park all from one great site.
Due to all of the information included in the pdf., the font on the site is kinda small so you will want to zoom in when you read and print it.

For future reference this link is posted under the Chester County Links on the right side of this blog.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Don't forget to check our community calendar. There are lots of great activities to keep your family busy all weekend.

Lots going on throughout The Chester County Library System

The Chester County Library System has so many great events scheduled that we have added a link under the Chester County Links tab (right side of the blog). Click on the link for information about story times, game nights, book clubs, teen nights, computer classes, crafting events, parenting workshops and lots, lots more.

Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack Give Away

Did you know research has shown that fewer than half of all kids ages two to 12 get the calcium they need each day? Calcium and Vitamin D are both essential nutrients for building strong bones. Though it can be challenging for growing kids to get Vitamin D, since it is found naturally in very few foods, Yoplait for Kids makes it a little easier to incorporate a delicious source of Vitamin D and Calcium in your child's diet.

Click here for valuable Yoplait Kids coupons.

I am a big Yogurt eater and I am happy to tell you about another awesome giveaway from Yoplait... a Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack. Yoplait for Kids helps build strong bones, enabling healthy and active bodies. Perfect for a fun-filled day for your active children, the Yoplait Get Active Prize Pack includes a travel cooler (to take your yogurt on the road), a jump rope, a water bottle and an outdoor game set that includes a beach ball, paddle ball, Jai-Ali and a Frisbee.


We have 3 Prize Packs to give away so enter for your chance to win today! You can email contests@chestercountymoms.com and enter YOPLAIT-GET ACTIVE in the subject line or leave a comment on this post. Don't forget to include your email address. The winners of this give away will be announced on April 20th. The winner of this give away MUST be a resident of Chester County and has until 25th to claim(reply to the "you won" email)their prize. Only 1 entry per household.

Kid's eat FREE at Barnaby's on Wednesday

Barnaby's

15 S High Street

West Chester, PA 19382

(610) 696-1400

www.barnabyswestchester.com

Kids eat FREE every Wednesday starting at 3PM. One child free per paying adult.

This offer excludes other specials (ie. the 3 for $3 tacos).

Also, don't forget to ask about the FREE Barnaby's Lil Sluggers t-shirts!!

Click here to view all of the great weekly specials at Barnaby's.

Tasty Tuesdays

Well, as Spring is here in all it's splendor...er...lack there of, I've decided that since I refuse to turn the heat back in high hopes that the 75 degree weather will be returning to us soon, that I'd start up the oven instead and bake something scrumptious today!

Tasty Tuesdays: Cookies

Spiced Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, butter flavored shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Stir in the oats and raisins. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until light and golden. Do not overbake. Let them cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheets to cool completely. Store in airtight container. Make sure you get some, because they don't last long!

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!

Do you have a yummy cookie recipe that you'd like to share with us?
Leave us a comment with a link to your recipe!!!

Food For Fines Amnesty Week

Chester County Library Food For Fines Amnesty Week

Bring in non-perishable items for the local food bank. Each item donated will earn you $1 off overdue fines! The Library welcomes your donations toward this worthy project, even if you have no fines.

The Details: You must present all items at the circulation desk with your library card during normal library business hours.

No donations left "at our doorstep" will be accepted toward fines. Items must be new, non-perishable items: cans of beef stew, canned vegetables and soup, boxed dinners, boxed macaroni and cheese, “Hamburger Helper" style items or unopened paper goods: Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, baby wipes. Amnesty is for overdue fines only and cannot be applied to other charges.

Any account in collections is not eligible for this program. Donations will not cover charges for lost or damaged items, rental fees or to cover copier or printer costs.

Amnesty Week is only at the Chester County, Henrietta Hankin & Chester Springs Libraries. Click here for more info.

Ask Shelby: Summer Camp Advice

As we mentioned, we are proud to be featuring our brand new monthly column "Ask Shelby" featuring expert advice from Chester County based Marriage and Family Therapist, Shelby Riley. Here is our installment for April!
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Shelby,

We are getting so many flyers and brochures for summer camps lately. We have three kids and we can't afford to send them to every camp they want to attend. We want to provide them every opportunity to grow and learn, and our friends are all doing two or three camps for each of their kids, but we don't know how we'll swing it. Are we depriving our kids by only letting them pick one week-long camp each for the summer?

Signed, Wishing Money Would Fall From the Sky

Dear Wishing Money Would Fall From the Sky,

Summer camps and art classes and sports teams and karate classes and music lessons and anything else your kids might be interested in are great. But they really aren't necessary for growing up a healthy child. We live in a culture of abundant choices, and it can start to feel like if we don't provide our children EVERY opportunity that we're not good parents. (And if we don't have all the 1000 cable channels that we're missing out on something). But that's not true. Good parents know their kids and care for them well. Some good parents sign their kids up for three camps. Some don't.

Being involved in camps and classes is a great way for kids to find out what they're good at, what they're passionate about, and what they like to do for fun. Each has it's benefits: art is great for self-expression, karate is good for confidence and learning to respect authority, team sports are good for building athletic coordination and social skills. It can seem like kids need to be involved in lots of structured activities in order to gain the full advantage of each one. Again, that's just not true. Being involved in too many activities makes for tired and cranky kids, and tired and cranky parents/drivers.

Kids do benefit from some structured activities. They also benefit from lots of free play time. They benefit from time playing with their parents, their siblings, and their friends. They benefit from down time and boredom; learning how to entertain yourself is quickly becoming a lost art, but it's a skill that everyone needs to master. They benefit from the spontaneous science experiments that happen in the kitchen when creating potions in old water bottles. They benefit from cooking lessons when mom or dad asks them to help with meal prep. They benefit from the exercise they get from a game of tag or hide and go seek in the back yard.

Know that as you ask your kids to pick one camp for the summer, you are providing them many wonderful things. You are showing them your love by offering the camp experience. You are building deductive reasoning skills by asking them to prioritize and choose their favorite. You are providing them the opportunity to develop self-soothing skills as they suffer through the disappointment of not going to every camp they want. And you are teaching your values and building their character by living within your means and finding other ways to enrich their lives--instead of trying to keep up with your friends or the culture of abundant choice. Good for you!

Yours, Shelby

**Remember to check out Shelby's website, Family Help Today, for a variety of useful information for couples, individuals, families, and kids. You can also find out more about Shelby's AWESOME e-books on her site.

Our New Monthly Feature: Ask Shelby!

We are so very excited to share our new monthly contributor with our readers, Shelby Riley, LMFT! She will be sharing her "Ask Shelby" column with us each month and will cover a host of marriage, self, and family topics! Here's a little bit about her.

Shelby graduated with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Pennsylvania. She has been practicing for over ten years and specializes in couple therapy and sand tray and play therapy with adolescents and children and she has a private practice in Chester County, PA. Shelby can also be found sharing her vast experience with the community at her website Family Help Today, where you can find simple solutions to create better relationships. There is help for individuals, couples, parents, and kids.

You can find our more about Ms. Riley and check out her AMAZING e-books on her website.

Our first installment of Ask Shelby will be posted today! Check it out!

Volunteers Needed for
Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy's
16th Annual Brandywine River Cleanup on April 18th

WHAT: In conjunction with Earth Day, the Young Friends of the Brandywine Conservancy invite volunteers to help remove debris along the banks of the Brandywine River. Every year, thousands of pounds of trash are collected--from plastic bottles and fencing to lawn chairs, duck decoys and tires.

Volunteers are advised to wear long pants, heavy shoes or boots, and sunscreen. Gloves will be provided.

WHEN: Saturday, April 18, rain or shine
9 am. Registration at Brandywine River Museum parking lot
9:30 a.m. Teams depart for designated areas
12 noon Return to Brandywine River Museum for lunch
provided by Buckley's Tavern to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Register at the Brandywine River Museum parking lot,
U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

Baby & Toddler Expo

We have a few FREE passes to The Baby & Toddler Expo, courtesy of our friends at Sun & Earth. Please email sarah@chestercountymoms.com if you are interested in going and we will mail the tickets to you*. Please make sure to include your name and address in the email.

First come first serve on the tix.

We also have $2 off admission coupons, so once the FREE passes run out we will mail out $2 off coupons

The Baby & Toddler Expo is April 18th & 19th. Click here for more info.

* Limit one FREE pass per household. Thank You!

Need A Great Babysitter?

Introducing a fast, easy, efficient way for savvy parents to find experienced sitters! Speed Sitter Interview Events introduce parents and babysitters looking for occasional or part time child care jobs. It’s like speed dating to find a sitter!

Come to the next Speed Sitter Interview Event on Thursday, April 30th 6:30 PM at United Sports Taining Center. USTC is located at 1426 Marshallton - Thorndale Road in Downingtown.

Parents meet up to 20 sitters and have face to face mini interviews Parents receive a Sitter Directory with a Profile for each sitter candidate. Parents and sitters discuss job responsibilities and salary. Parents pay sitters directly.

Advanced registration is required. Space is limited to 20 moms per event to allow time for each mom to interview each sitter.

Parent Fee: $100 Launch special: $50! (Sitters FREE)

For more information or to secure your spot, visit http://www.premiersitterservices.com/
or call: 1-888-SITTER-3

The Chester County Airport

The Flying Machine Cafe located at The Chester County Airport has a great Kid's Eat FREE deal on Monday & Tuesday. (under age 10, with adult entree purchase) The Flying Machine Cafe is a full service restaurant and bar providing flight catering as well as pub fare at reasonable prices. Dine in a casual and friendly atmosphere over looking the airport runway. Your kids will have a great time watching the planes land and take off and looking at the various aircraft and airport vehicles. Don't forget to enroll them in the Captains Club.

Wild for Buffalo Wings? Try the 30 cents a piece Wing Special every Wednesday evening from 5pm to 9pm. The assorted flavors and levels of heat will please any wing fan. Try the 'Jet Engine Style' if you dare.

The Flying Machine Cafe accepts all major credit cards, and is open 11am -10pm Mon thru Fri and 8am - 10pm Sat & Sun. Click here for more information or call 610-380-7977

Cookie Magazine's Word of Mom...

No one is as opinionated and passionate as the mom of today is about what she feeds her kids, what beauty products she uses, what stores she loves, and what she believes in—which is why Cookie Magazine wants to hear from you. Cookie Magazine values our opinion, and wants to know....what products can't you live without? What products do you think should receive Cookie's Word of Mom™ Readers' Choice seal? Just for giving Cookie Magazine your picks, you will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes to win a three-night stay for four at the Inn of the Spanish Garden in Santa Barbara, courtesy of TabletHotels.com.
Click here to submit your favorite products in the Cookie Magazine Word of Mom Readers Choice Contest. In August, readers will vote on the products that got the most submissions. And at the end of the year, winning products will receive the Cookie Word of Mom™ Readers' Choice seal, courtesy of moms everywhere.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Don't forget to check our community calendar. There are lots of great activities to keep your family busy all weekend.

Faces for a Friend Fundraiser at Make A Mess!

Make A Mess
64 Pottstown Pike Suite 100
Chester Springs, PA 19425
(Located behind the Toomey Building - Across from the Wawa)

The ladies at Make A Mess in Eagle are hosting a charity event for one of their dear friends, a local Chester County Mother that has been under going treatment for Melanoma. Make A Mess has hired an awesome face painter and is hoping you will stop by on Saturday, April 11th, 10am-noon, for an afternoon of messy fun and face painting.

$10 per face painting. ALL proceeds go to the Chester County Mother under going treatment. If you have any questions please contact Jenn at Make A Mess - 610-639-1196.

Tasty Tuesdays

Tasty Tuesdays: Potatoes

If there's one thing that I love to indulge in it's potatoes! I know...sounds silly...but I'm sure you'll agree! I love mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, fried potatoes, french fries and just about any other which way you can make a potato!

That's why I love this Tasty Tuesdays! Plus, today's Tasty Tuesdays recipe is making it to my Easter Dinner Table this year. I'm not a "traditional Easter Dinner" maker...I always prepare a special meal...but it's not always the same each year. This year we have a lot of people to please so we're making a fun smorgasbord of delicious recipes...this being one of them...

Party Potatoes

The best part about this recipe is that you can make these ahead of time and they taste great!!!

Ingredients:

10 medium potatoes (Russet works well)
6 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp. onion salt (occasionally I use garlic salt instead or one tsp. of each)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 TB butter
Grated/Shredded cheddar cheese (about 2-4 cups depending on your taste)
Paprika (I just sprinkle it over the top)

Directions:

Peel and quarter potatoes. You will have 7-8 cups peeled potatoes. Put potatoes in large saucepan with water to cover.Bring to a boil and boil until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain well. Mash until smooth with potato masher or electric mixer. Mix cream cheese with sour cream or yogurt, onion salt and pepper. Beat into the potatoes and beat with a whisk until smooth and fluffy. Taste for seasoning: you may wish to add a teaspoon of plain salt. Place in two-quart casserole or a refrigerator container. Cool and cover.

To serve, place desired amount in greased casserole, dot with butter or margarine and sprinkle with paprika or top with lots of cheese (freshly grated, if possible).

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, uncovered, until heated through.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Tastes best if refrigerated 12-24 hours before baking. Can be kept in covered refrigerator container for up to two weeks.

POTATOES WITH CHIVES: Instead of 2 tsp. onion salt, use 1 tsp garlic salt or onion salt, 1 tsp. plain salt, and one tbsp. minced freeze-dried or fresh chives.

Do you have a delicious potato recipe you'd like to share? Leave us a comment and tell us all about it! We'd love to hear from you!

Sane Fit Preggers Giveaway Winner

Congrats B.Cianciulli on winning the Sane Fit - Preggers Giveaway.

Thanks to all that entered. Stay tuned for lots of great eco-friendly giveaways as we celebrate Earth Day, another awesome Yoplait giveaway and a chance to win 4 tickets to the Zing Zang Zoom, Ringling Bros. Circus, coming to Philadelphia, May 13th-25th.

Yoplait Tote & Water Bottle Give Away

3 lucky Chester County Moms will win a Yo-Plus gift bag that includes a coupon for a free 4-pack of Yo-Plus yogurt, Yoplait cooler tote bag, water bottle and a nutrition journal – great for keeping track of your health goals and eating habits.

In my personal quest to eat healthier I just tried the new Blueberry Acai Yo-Plus... yum! Blueberry Acaí Yo-Plus is a creamy, fruit-flavored yogurt with live and active probiotic cultures that help "regulate" your digestive system. Yo-Plus is so delicious you’ll never guess that it has just 110 calories and only 1.5 grams of fat. Plus, it has 3 grams of fiber in every serving! Enter to win this contest for a coupon for a FREE Yo-Plus 4 pack and try out the Blueberry Acai for yourself.



You can enter this contest by sending an email to contests@chestercountymoms.com and enter YOPLAIT in the subject line OR leave a comment on this post. Don't forget there are 3 prize packs up for grabs! Please make sure you include your email address. The winners of this contest will be announced April 10th and notified via email. The winner MUST be a resident of Chester County and has until April 15th to claim their prize. Only 1 entry per household.