Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes {{GIVEAWAY}}

I love me an all-you-can-eat restaurant and one of my favorites is Souplantation (called Sweet Tomatoes in different regions). If you missed my review from last year, you can read it here. If you have not visited this restaurant, you really are missing out. You start out at the salad bar and then there is pasta, soups, pizza, different types of warm bread and muffins, and so much more. It sounds like paradise doesn't it?

Did you know that February is National Potato Lovers' Month? Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes did and is celebrating with Potato Fest Month. There is a reason that the most eaten vegetable for children is the potato. It tastes great in any form, be it mashed, baked, steamed, covered in cheese, butter... It is my personal favorite and it has gotten a bad rap by those carbohydrate-hating people. However, the potato is low in calories, fat, high in potassium and is cholesterol free.

 

And, the restaurant is even giving out the recipe for a guest favorite, 

Golden Yam Bisque, from February 15 – 28!

I am seriously craving the Sweet Potato Corn Chowder which means a visit to Souplantion must occur soon. If you too are a potato fan, an all-you-can-eat, or simply a fan of great food, then you are in luck because...

THREE of my readers will win 2 dining passes to Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes!

TO ENTER: Tell me if your local restaurant is a Souplantation or a Sweet Tomatoes. You can use the store locator here.

This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

• Follow my blog publicly
  
• Add my button to your blog
• Add me to your text blog roll (not button)
  
• Subscribe to my blog via email
• Become a fan of Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes on Facebook (please leave username)
  
• List one of the 10 Reasons to Love the Potato post on their Blog
  
• Follow me and Souplantation on Twitter and tweet the following: WIN 2 FREE dining passes for @souplantation (3 Winners!) at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy @kariellen http://tinyurl.com/ylzqono Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.

Contest ends February 19th at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on or around February 20th and they will have 48 hours to respond. Open to All!

**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
No compensation was given to write this post. All views and opinions are mine alone. I cannot guarantee that you and/or your family will love the food/restaurant as much as we have - but I would be totally surprised if you don't.

Turner Classic Movies 31 Days of Oscar

My husband loves movies. Sitting with him and his buddies when we were dating, they would rattle off quotes from movies and look at me like I should know what they were talking about. I also didn't understand how one could watch a movie more than once. I mean, you know how it ends already, right? However, I have grown to appreciate that when you watch a movie again, you will surely see things you didn't catch the first time. Turner Classic Movies (TCM) are for those people like my husband who love to see movies again and for those like me, who never got a chance to watch it in the first place.

While my husband is the movie fan, I am an Academy Awards fan. After the nominees are announced, I try to see as many of the nominated movies as I can. It works well for us. TCM is doing their annual 31 Days of Oscar Festival as we begin the countdown toward this year's Academy Awards (March 7th) Of course my husband already knew all about this annual event and I am so excited to spread the news about it as it features 360 Academy Award-nominated and winning movies, presented uncut and commercial-free. It is perfect for a couple like my husband and me! This year the films are scheduled in a format inspired by the ever-popular Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game – starting with Only When I Laugh and ending with Diner, it's designed so that each movie is linked to the next movie in the lineup through a shared actor or actress.

After watching the promo below, I got even more excited! The one movie I am the most excited to watch again is West Side Story (yes, I am singing I Feel Pretty right about now) and I can't even begin to list the movies I am looking forward to seeing for the first time.

While I am surely impressed with the line-up of movies, how the folks at TCM have connected each movie to the next is downright impressive. While the 31 days started on Monday, there are still TONS of movies left to watch as these will run back-to-back for the entire 31 days. Not sure when you will sleep if you want to watch them all, but it might be fun to give it a try! You can download the pdf schedule here.

Wanna help spread the word? Send a friend an ecard! Select a mood below & scroll through the ecard choices. Some are down right hysterical.

Have a favorite you are looking forward to seeing or a movie you had always wanted to see? Let me know!

I will receive a TCM Oscar Party Pack as a thank you for helping spread the word. This did not influence my decision to write a post regarding it and all views and opinions are mine alone. I cannot guarantee that you and/or your family will enjoy these movies. I cannot even guarantee I will for that matter.

I Lied.

Well, sorta. I said I wasn't making any traditional New Years Resolutions, however I did vow to really try to lose the excess weight I gained after having the last 2 boys. The fact that I made this vow at the first of the year was purely coincidental. Kinda.

I got my husband to okay the extra cost on our cable bill to add FitTV to our service. That reminds me, I should really cancel that as I am totally not using it.

Now I am trying to make use of the knowledge I paid thousands of money for. I mean, I do have a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology (that would be Physical Education to everyone who isn't a Kinesiology major). I know the "secrets" to losing weight. Eat less. Move more. Calories in. Calories out.

Have you ever really looked at the calorie content of the foods you eat? I mean really looked? I walk around now looking at people eat and count all the calories up in my head. It is down right depressing.

My husband had a salad with ranch dressing tonight and in that small little bowl he had consumed more calories than I had eaten all day. Then he asked me about those new Oreo Cakesters I had purchased a couple weeks back. He wanted to know if they were good. Um, yeah they are! You wanna know what he did? He ate two sandwiches of gloriously divine yellow pillows of soft cake with white sinful frosting in the middle, right in front of me. 220 calories in less than a minute!

My best friend says that I share things on the blog and none of my readers ever hold me accountable. I am hoping that that trend continues. I will thank you in advance.

Wordless Wednesday - Kissin' Cousins

 

This Christmas Jake was kissing every relative he could get his lips on.

He was fast too - This was the best shot I could get.

For more Wordless Wednesdays: 5 Minutes for Mom

I Got Inspired by Healthy Child, Healthy World: A Wake-Up Story

I am not being asked to write about this. I didn't receive anything to do so.

We ALL want to do what is best for our children, for their future. Healthy Child Healthy World (http://healthychild.org/) is a fabulous site with so much information on taking "simple steps to create a safe, clean, green home for your baby, kids and family. " I hope you will check it out. At the very least, just watch this short video (3:30 in length) and I hope you will be inspired to take a some simple step towards making the world a little healthier for all our children.

Children need a bedtime story, but parents need a wake-up story

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.

Take Me Back Tuesday - Brotherly Love

<center><a href="http://nateandjakeandme.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://web.me.com/mraceto/kari/tuesday/button.jpg" /> </a></center>

How do you play along?We all have tons of photos from the days before the digital camera. I figure if I just scan a few each week, eventually I will get them all safely into my computer. But you don't need a scanner to participate - Just find a photo that takes you back to another time. Every week you can come back here and share photos that "take you back." Maybe it is the bad hair we all had in the 80's or the bell-bottoms you swore were so hip in the 70's.
If you decide to participate, sign the Linky below and I promise to head on over and spread some comment love your way!

 My husband and his younger brother

I love this picture because my husband looks a bit mischievous, while his little brother has the sweetest, most pure smile. Isn't it always the case that the sweet and innocent looking ones are the ones you should watch out for? It certainly was in this family.
I have to add that I love all my in-laws and my brother-in-law especially. I am truly blessed that I have in-laws that I truly like and love.

The Pepsi Refresh Project

This morning I was watching the Today Show on NBC and they did a segment with Demi Moore and Kevin Bacon, talking about the Pepsi Refresh Project. I was feeling pretty hip because I already knew all about the project and am thrilled to be sharing this program with all of you. I sincerely hope you will find yourself inspired and consider getting involved. Can a soda company really make a change in the world?

The Pepsi Refresh Project will be giving away $20 million dollars in grants to fund projects that help make communities better or in other words, to refresh a community. Individuals, groups and non-profits are encouraged to apply. How does it work? Simply think of an idea, download the toolkit at www.refresheverything.com, http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8470147930374018157submit your idea, promote and get others to vote for your idea. Each month, you will have the opportunity to submit a project in one of six categories: health, arts & culture, food & shelter, the planet, neighborhood, or education. Grants range from $5,000 to $250,000 and at the end of each month Pepsi will post the top submissions and the public will then decide who will receive the grants.

Every Superbowl we gather around, not only to watch the game, but to watch the commercials. A 30-second spot this year is estimated at nearly $3 million. This year, Pepsi has decided not purchase ad space this year and will instead be investing in supporting communities through the Pepsi Refresh Project. While Pepsi was already my favorite brand of soda, I now feel even better purchasing their products after learning of this decision.

Lauren Hobart, Mom and CMO of Sparking Brands at Pepsi, when asked for advice for moms that have ideas about refreshing their communities, said the following: "Most individuals should opt for the $5000 grant, but it really depends on the idea and who you'll be working with to bring it to action. People should also remember that winning comes with the responsibility to bring your idea to life. If you need inspiration, there are example ideas on the Pepsi Refresh website to help get you started as well as a toolkit that guides you through the application process."

As a former public school teacher, I remember having lots of ideas for my school and the community but the funds to do them were not available. Please tell your children's teachers about this project.  With more and more money being cut from education budgets, this is a great chance to get funding for those projects that, up until now, were simply dreams.

Can a soda company really make a change in the world? Pepsi thinks so and I agree. I can hardly wait to see this project in action.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Refresh. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Mommy Pads & (so much) More {{Giveaway}}

Living in a house full of boys, I have to grab a little bit of girlie whenever I can. The site Mommy Pads & More is labeled as the "place for stylish, girlie goods and gifts" and when I was asked to review one of their return address stamps, I ran into some major problems I simply had the hardest time picking just one. I am normally not so indecisive - they are just so many styles that I loved.

There really is a style/pattern of stamp for anyone. Susie, the creative mind behind Mommy Pads & More, helped me to design my stamp and I could not be happier with the final product. It was a bit larger than I had expected, but it is also self-inking and would have lost some of its detail had it been smaller. Something that I have been meaning to do is to start writing more snail mail letters and sending out real cards. The art of letter-writing seems to have been replaced by email and texting. Now I am eager to write some letters so I can use my adorable stamp! There are other stamps available such as, handmade by, teacher and chidren stamps.

If you are looking for a personalized notepad, this is a great place to find beautiful and stylish ones. There are mommy, family, single name, kid, teacher, thank you and even eco-friendly notepads. Some come with adorable matching bows like the one pictured at right. I am always writing one note or another and I always look for something nice to write on. However, usuallyI am forced to use an old envelope or a napkin.

I don't want to forget to mention that Mommy Pads & More also carries jewelry! The Swank Mommy Loops with Stone is my absolute favorite (shown above). Someone's (hint: me) birthday is in a few weeks and she would really like this (hint, hint: are you listening hubby?). 

BUY IT!: Mommy Pads & More is offering my readers a 15% discount on your purchase at mommypadsandmore.com!!  Simply enter MOMMY at checkout. Their items would make fabulous Valentine's gifts.

WIN IT!: One of my readers will win a personalized stamp or notepad of their choice (up to a $32 value) at Mommy Pads & More

TO ENTER: Go to Mommy Pads & More and tell me what you choose should you win.

This is required before you may use any of the extra credit options.
Please leave your email address in your comment if it is not visible in your profile.

Extra Credit! You may do any or all of the following, just don't forget to leave a separate comment for EACH one you do:

• Subscribe to the RSS Feed (upper right hand corner) of Mommy Pads & More Blog
• Follow my blog publicly
  
• Add my button to your blog
• Add me to your text blog roll (not button)
  
• Subscribe to my blog via email
• Follow me and Mommy Pads & More on Twitter and tweet the following: WIN a $32 Gift credit to @mommypadsnmore for something Girlie and Stylish at A Giveaway Addicted Mommy @kariellen http://tinyurl.com/ygt3lay Leave the link to your tweet in your comment. You can do this once a day! Just come back and leave the link each time you do.

Contest ends February 16th at 11:59 PST and a winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. I will contact the winner on or around February 17th and they will have 48 hours to respond. Open to All!

**Entries are Per Person, Per Email Address, Per Household, Per IP Address and/or Per Blog. Failure to follow these rules will lead to disqualification in this contest and all future contests on this blog. In other words, no cheating please.
This post was written after receiving the item free of charge to review. All views and opinions are mine alone. I cannot guarantee that you and/or your family will love it as much as we have - but I would be totally surprised if you don't.